Kaduna Bombing Deliberately Targeted Women, Children, Says Gumi

Controversial Islamic Cleric, Sheik Ahmad Gumi says the drone bombing by the Nigerian Army of Tudun Biri of Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna state was deliberate.

The bombing which took place on Sunday killed at least 120 people leaving many others in critical condition in the hospital.

The Nigerian Army has described the bombing as a mistake, saying the drone was on the trail of terrorists.

The incident has elicited serious condemnation from not a few Nigerians who also called for a probe.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a probe of the incident, vowing to punish those culpable. The federal government has also promised to start rebuilding the affected community next week.

Gumi however insists that the Army deliberately targeted civilians, including women and children who were killed and injured during the accidental drone attack.

The cleric who has been clamouring for dialogue with terrorists said the bombing was a confirmation of his suggestion that the kinetic approach alone cannot be the solution to the problem of terrorism in the northern part of the country.

He said his warning that northerners are deliberately being killed by the military in the war against insurgency has not been heeded.

According to him, “I kept telling you not to invite people who see war as a solution but people refused to listen. Here it’s now. War is never a joke because it affects everybody. I warned you on this but you keep saying they should be killed.

“It’s you that will be killed. That bomb was meant to target the families of some people so as to kill their children and wives. I have been to a village where women and children were massacred in a remote forest.

“Many people have been bombed. Nobody said anything until it came nearer to the city. I have been saying that whatever is between us, whether it is bandits or Boko Haram, there should be peaceful negotiation.”