Don’t politicise Kaduna bombing, group tell mischief makers

Coordinator of Civil-Military Cooperation has warned mischief makers not to politicize or trivialize the Kaduna bombing that left over 120 people dead with several receiving treatment in various hospital across the state.

Commending the promptness, in which the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff responded to the development, the group, under the aegis of Conference of Civil Societies and Coordinator of Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMICO) in Nigeria, said that the issue should not be escalated in the interest of national harmony, peace and security.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, on a topic, “the unfortunate Kaduna drone strike,” the Chairperson of CIMICO, Adams Otakwu said that the development should not be interpreted along regional or religious’ line.

He said: “Such an incident that led to the loss of innocent lives and several others wounded in a community with a mix of Muslims and Christians [as noted by the district head of the community, Arc Aminu Idris] can best be described as unfortunate and a loss, not just to Tudun Biri, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna state or a single faith, but to the country at large.

“Hence, we commiserate with the immediate community, the state and the entire nation, and urge for restraint on the part of groups and individuals politicising, regionalising or religionising the incident.

“As the voice and conscience of the masses, we note the promptness with which the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff visited to condole with the community, where the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, on behalf of the Nigerian Army apologized and made provisions for upkeep and medical care of those wounded.

“This goes to underscore responsibility by the Nigerian Army, and we urge on all Nigerians as well as the international community to extend condolences, benevolences and prayers to the people of Tudun Biri, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State at this trying moment, in addition to the responses by the Kaduna State Government, Civil Society, Armed Forces, Ministers of Defence and the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“As watchdog of the society, we caution and call on those stoking needless tensions around the incident to desist forthwith, as we look forward to a thorough and transparent investigation as ordered by the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Again, this is not a political, regional or religious issue, and should not be projected or interpreted as such, in the interest of national harmony, peace and security.”