Tudun-biri Attack: Campaign of Calumny Against CDS, other Service Chiefs'll Only stir up Tension , says Northern Group

Group under umbrella of Northern Coalition of Socio-Political Group (CSPG),has asked Nigerians to disregard the campaign of calumny against the Chief of Defense State and other service chiefs.

Recalled that a tragic accidental bomb incident occurred on Sunday at Tudun-Biri village in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, during a Maulud celebration which left over 120 persons dead.

Speaking at a press conference about issues surrounding the bomb incident , the Deputy Chairman of the group , explained: "From the information gathered, the Nigerian Army was on a routine mission against terrorists, but inadvertently affected members of the community leaving several citizens dead and many others injured .

"For us, It is too early and out of place for anyone to give the incident an ethnic or religious colouration when investigations about the circumstances surrounding the bombing are still ongoing.

"it is natural for such incident to attract condemnation , little wonder, the pan-Northern political and cultural association, the Arewa Consultative Forum, and the Jama’tu Nasril Islam have added their voices with calls for those found culpable to be punished.

"The religious and political leaders demanding for the sack the Chief of Defense Staff; the Chief of Army Staff, other service chiefs and the GOC are unnecessarily steering up tension. We want peace and tranquility to despite the ugly incident.

"As mark of concern, we have seen both the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Christopher Musa and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja , visited deceased victims’ families and injured ones in hospitals in Kaduna .

"The group and few other people who have embarked on campaign of calumny should please stop pointing accusations at the chief of Defence, we therefore calling the good people of Kaduna and Nigeria in general to avoid bringing up the issue of religious, ethnicity and sentiment. It is worthy on note to say ,the chief of Defence staff is not for the Southern Kaduna or Kaduna Christian or Muslim rather for the whole nation.

"We are therefore calling on our brothers from AREWA GROUP to avoid bringing the issue of religion and ethnicity in what happened (bombing at Tudun-Biri)

"Meanwhile,We are joining United Nations, ACF ,JNI and other organizations to demanded full, thorough, honest, and open investigation of the incident, to establish what exactly happened,while we urged the military to review its rules of engagement to avoid the recurrence of an airstrike on a community in Kaduna State that killed several civilians.

"The devastating impact on lives and emotional effects are better imagined, therefore,we are urging the government and international communities to assist members of the community, especially victims’ families to cushion the effect of the bomb attack."