President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pledged to rebuild Tudun Biri following the Nigerian Army’s inadvertent bombings that left the village devastated killing over 100 people and leaving another 70 injured last Sunday.
Speaking on Thursday when he paid a condolence visit on Tudun Biri, Igabi local government area of Kaduna state, to commiserate with the family of the victims and when he visited the injured victims at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital Kaduna, President Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said the rebuilt which will be done under a new programme, FULAKO Initiative, which commences this month, will see the victims tale care of, while the community will be rebuilt.
According to Shettima: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu sent us to commiserate with the people of Kaduna state over the tragic incident .The calibre of people that are here with me is a testimony of how deeply touched the president was by the incident. The President was deeply touched by what happened. We will like to assure the people and government of Kaduna state that the government will take measures to protect and preserve the interest of our nation.
“The victims will be taken well care of under the FULAKO Initiative which will commenced by this month and this community will be the first to be rebuilt in North-west zone. All measures will be taken to ensure that future ocurrence are averted. Government will go to the root of the issue and anyone found culpable will be punished accordingly,” he said.
Speaking during a condolence visit to Governor Sani at Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, the VP while addressing leaders of the community, traditional ruler and religious leaders said, “I’m here on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to come and commiserate, to sympathize and empathize with the people and government of Kaduna state, especially the inhabitants of Tudun Biri who were affected by the unfortunate incident of couple of days ago.
“I’m here because the President is deeply concerned; he was deeply touched by what happened. Like the late Dele Giwa rightly said, ‘you don’t talk about the numbers, one life lost in cold blood is as gruesome as a million lost’. The heart of the President is with the bereaved families. And be rest assured that the Federal Government stands by the community affected and the government and people of Kaduna state on this unfortunate incident. The President called me more than 17 times on this matter when he was outside the country.
“As directed by Mr President, an investigation is being conducted with a view to preventing recurrence of the incident and we expect the report to be submitted very soon. I want to register our profound gratitude to our religious leaders, our community leaders who served as stabilizing forces in this trying moment. Efforts were made to politicize the the incident, but our leaders chose to act in the path of decency, on the path of moderation, on the path of maturity and we cannot but thank them profusely.
“Most importantly, the President has approved the commencement of the FULAKO Initiative by next month. The FULAKO Initiative is the President’s unique response as a non-kinetic solution to the challenges in the North-west. Beneficiary states are Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Katsina, Kaduna and for the purpose of equity and justice, we deliberately included Niger and Benue states. Now, the President has directed that the FULAKO Initiative should be kick-started here in Kaduna state, and Tudun Biri will be the first beneficiary community.
“Under the initiative, we are going to build houses, clinics, schools, veterinary hospitals, empowerment initiatives, solar energy and so on. It is a complete package of solution; a non-kinetic responses to the problems of banditry and kidnapping in the North-west. I can assure you that the President meant well for the North. The President meant well for the nation.”
Vice President Shettima commended Governor Sani for bringing the religious leaders together under one umbrella, saying that “what binds us together as a people supersedes what divides us. In this our trying moment, he brought together the two heads”.
Governor Sani in his response appreciated President Tinubu for sending the delegation led by the Vice President to commiserate with the people of Kaduna state. He equally appreciated the Federal Government for responding to the people’s call for immediate investigation into the incident. “The Federal Government has responded positively by saying that there is going to be proper investigation, as soon as possible and the outcome will be made public to Nigerians.
“The Kaduna state government on its part will ensure that it look after the wounded and also provide proper medical care, while it will take care of the orphans by giving them support. We are happy that he FULAKO Initiative under the Vice President’s office will kick start in Kaduna at Tudun Biri community. This is because they have lost everything, houses will be rebuilt and they will provide hospital, schools and farming facilities for them,” he said.
Governor Sani also commended religious leaders for cooperating with the state government, while assuring the people of Kaduna state that compensation will be paid, and houses will be rebuilt, adding that they will also ensure that similar thing does not happen again.
Several speakers at the meeting, including the Kaduna state chapter Chairmen of JNI and CAN, Prof. Shefiu Abdullahi and Rev. John Hayab respectively, as well as representatives of Tudun Biri community called for investigation of the unfortunate incident and payment of compensation to the victims’ families.
