Security
Tudun Biri: Unravel Suppliers, Operators Of Drone, Miqati Tells Govt
By Sunday Isuwa, Abuja
A former gubernatorial aspirant in Kaduna State, Shuaibu Idris Miqati has commiserated with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Uba Sani, Emir of Zazzau and the Tudun Biri community over the unfortunate bombing incident, urging them to unravel the suppliers, the maintenance as well as those operating the drone.
Migati also urged the government to ensure that assistance to the victims is not diverted.
In a statement he personally signed, Miqati said he received with rude shock the sad news of the accident which occurred in Tudun Biri, Igabi Local Government Area of our great state; Kaduna.
“Friendly fire does occur in military operations, particularly when and where there may be intelligence failure. This is not peculiar to our society. Although the incidence appears to have some level of carelessness and / or recklessness, human and / or machine error are known to occur and reoccur often.
“The recent incident in Kaduna calls for caution and calm in understanding the problem as well as challenges facing the military in general.
“We note with concern the interventions of governments to conduct full scale investigation which should not and must be limited to the incidence but should include the source of the drone.
“The government must unravel the suppliers, the maintenance as well as the operations of the machine.
“We appreciate the level of concern shown by various government agencies, organizations, and functionaries since the unfortunate incident. The promises of assistance to the families of the victims and the survivors are also encouraging and welcomed. However, governments must ensure that the intended assistance is not divided.
“On behalf of myself and my family, I wish to commiserate with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Sen Uba Sani, HRH The Emir of Zazzau, the Chairman of Igabi Local Government Area as well as the entire citizens of Kaduna State, particularly the families of those affected by the unfortunate incidence.
“Finally, now that we are aware of our military’s capabilities to launch such an attack, Nigerian citizens would require a definitive solution or date when bandits would be crushed by our armed forces,” Miqati added.
No fewer than 26 people lost their lives, with three others sustaining injuries, following an improvised explosive device (IED) detonation along the Rann–Kala Balge–Gamboru Ngala highway in Borno.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, several civilian vehicles travelling from Rann in Kala Balge LGA ran into a series of hidden explosives.
Makama said the incident occurred on Monday after the convoy veered into a zone where the IEDs had been strategically placed.
The publication said the IEDs were triggered by the movement of vehicles, adding that emergency personnel were swiftly deployed to evacuate victims and administer first aid.
“Security forces have since cordoned off the affected route and commenced clearance operations to ensure safety and prevent a repeat of the incident,” the report said.
“Those injured have been transferred to nearby hospitals where they are currently receiving medical attention.”
Last week, Mohammed Badaru, minister of defence, said President Bola Tinubu is committed to addressing the growing security challenges in Borno state.
The minister spoke about the administration’s commitment to meeting all operational needs of the troops to enhance security in the region.
The Oodua Integrity Group, a Nigerian civil society organisation, has called on Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to investigate and arrest an alleged gun runner, land grabber,popularly called then insert Lucky Blessings Abuah aka bullets of Achala Ibusa village operating in Asaba and Ibuzor, Delta State, accusing him of orchestrating criminal activities with the aid of rogue police officers.
Tosin Olaoluwa, the group’s South-South coordinator, made the appeal following intelligence gathered from concerned residents.
The suspect, identified as Achala Ibusa but popularly known as “Bullet,” is accused of running a network involving illegal arms trafficking, land grabbing, and cult-related activities.
Olaoluwa claimed Bullet operates with the protection of police officers from Rivers State, in violation of regulations prohibiting officers from working outside their command without approval.
According to the group, four AK-47 rifles were recently discovered hidden in a house in Ibuzor.
Two mobile police officers guarding the property reportedly distanced themselves from the find, raising suspicions of their involvement with Bullet, who is allegedly a leader of the Viking cult.
The Oodua Integrity Group further alleged that an assistant commissioner of police is complicit in Bullet’s activities.
The group highlighted that up to 10 mobile police officers are attached to Bullet, despite IGP Egbetokun’s recent directive to withdraw such personnel from individuals not legally entitled to their services.
“We urge the IGP to take immediate action to arrest the culprit in the interest of the general public,” Olaoluwa said, describing Bullet as a miscreant exploiting government security agents to perpetrate crimes.
In a separate incident, the group claimed that security agents from an agency in Abuja, acting on intelligence, were prevented from arresting Bullet by his police escorts.
The officers, reportedly from Rivers State, allegedly used tear gas and fired shots to obstruct the operation.
The Oodua Integrity Group warned that Bullet’s activities, including stockpiling AK-47s and other weapons in Asaba and Ibuzor, pose a significant threat to public safety.
They called for a thorough investigation into the allegations and the immediate apprehension of those involved.
The Nigeria Police Force has yet to respond to the allegations. Efforts to reach a spokesperson for comment were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
The Kaduna state Police Command has debunked reports of a bomb explosion in the Abakpa area of the metropolis, which reportedly killed two children.
The spokesman of the Command, Mansir Hassan, said in a statement that preliminary investigations conducted by the Anti-Bomb Squad indicate that a locally made firearm (Dane gun) was discharged, resulting in the unfortunate loss of life of the young boy.
According to the police, the incident, which occurred at about 8:30 am on Tuesday at Josawa Road in the Abakpa area, claimed the life of a 12-year-old boy, identified as Abubakar Muhammed of Josawa Road, while seven other individuals sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The statement stated that a combined team of policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer of Kawo Division and the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Chairman of Kaduna North Local Government, all visited the scene following a distress call, and a thorough on-site assessment was carried out.
Police disclosed that further investigations and assessments are ongoing to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Command equally assured the public that further developments will be promptly and transparently communicated.