Row Over Deadly Drone Attack In Ligarma

By Uke N. Uke

● We acted on credible intelligence – Army
● Launch an investigation now – Tinubu
● Attack killed the innocent- Kaduna State Govt

The Nigerian Army has asserted that its aerial attack on Ligarma community in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State which killed several persons was prompted by information obtained through credible intelligence.

The army’s stance made public on Tuesday is coming in the wake of public outcry following the elimination of so many people by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.

It is not yet known if the insurgents whom the military claims were in the area as at the time of the deadly attack relied on the opportunity offered by the celebration of the birth of the Holy prophet and founder of the Islamic faith as cover to infiltrate the  community.

But the army insists that its drone attack which was unleashed Sunday was targeted at terrorists whose movements were picked up through aerial surveillance.

The Defence Headquarters which issued a reaction after the army initially admitted it was behind the attack defended Sunday’s drone attack on Ligarma community.

Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, said in a statement on Tuesday that the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) detachment took notice of suspicious movements made by terrorists at Ligarma around 10pm on Sunday.

No less than 50 people, some of them defenseless civilians, are reported to have died.

But the use of such aerial vehicles by the army aptly demonstrated that Nigeria under the Tinubu administration is systematically updating its capability to strike at the heart of the enemy.

Weaponized drones are becoming part of a new generation of tactical armour that are being deployed in battlefront.

Reacting to the uproar generated by the drone attack, Nigeria’s Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Tinubu called for a full scale investigation in order to unravel what led to the killing of ordinary Nigerians.

Tinubu through his top media aide,  Ajuri Ngelale expressed his condolences to the Kaduna State Government and the bereaved families whose loved ones were killed.

“The incident is very unfortunate  disturbing and painful”, the statement quoted the President as saying.

Tinubu, according to Ngelale, expressed “anger and grief over the tragic loss of Nigerian lives.”

“The President has directed an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the incident and has called for calm as authorities diligently look into the mishap” Ngelale added.

The Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, acknowledged the gravity of the attack which has left several families in mourning.

The incident, he remarked, has prompted the President to ensure that a thorough investigation is conducted.

Meanwhile, Professor Pat Utomi, a top ranking member of the Labour Party has asked the President and members of his team who are in Dubai to return home.

Utomi took to his verified wall on X, formerly Twitter to urge members of the Nigerian delegation are attending COP28 to exhibit some compassion for the dead by ending their participation at the conference.

“Kaduna my Kaduna. I was born in Kaduna and the pain of it’s sad recent bloody history weighs me down”, Utomi wrote.

“The latest mistaken killing of many innocents just makes me pause to cry to God. Please show mercy Lord. I hope the crowd in Dubai have the good sense to return in sympathy”.

While the controversy rages on, an Arewa group has called for the sack of top military commanders under whose watch Nigeria appears to be having an upper hand in the battle against terrorism.