More than a hundred were killed and many injured for no fault of theirs, last Sunday in the Tudun Biri community, Kaduna State. The attack was unbelievable. Survivors said some bodies were in pieces. Another said parts were picked from trees. The aftermath was devastating. The military raided the small community to destroy terrorists but mistakenly bombed civilians.

For the past few days afterwards, the world has continued to lament what many said was the result of an intelligence failure on the part of those saddled with the task of protecting lives and properties.

The sights have been pathetic. Among the survivors is a deaf and dumb girl nobody knows what to do with her or how to trace her family. She is among the few Christians residing at the Tudun Biri community of Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Three of her relatives were among those Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) otherwise called drone propelled by the Nigerian Army, mistakenly killed during a Maulud celebration. They mistook innocent civilians for bandits. Now, nobody knows her identity. She is alone. Nobody has come forward to claim any relationship with her. No one could tell her next destination since the people close to her didn’t survive it.

I couldn’t eat for days due to trauma — Idris
Malam Idris is another survivor of the Kaduna tragedy. “I have not eaten for days now because of the trauma,” he said.

The gory sight, the stench from decomposing flesh and blood, the thought of missing family members and friends, had changed his body chemistry. Food was no longer what he wanted at the time.

He said the effect of the drone attack was so enormous that many bodies were found in shreds. It was a sight he prayed never to see again.

“While we were in hospital, one of our relatives affected by the drone attack died. He was buried yesterday.

“More people are being brought to the hospital. Many other victims were not even found. Body parts were picked on nearby trees.

“My uncle is the Village Head, he told me 85 died. But many were in pieces and could not be counted. My mother’s younger sister was in pieces. After the first drone attack, our forest officer, Bashir was speeding on his motorcycle to render help.

“Unfortunately, he and other rescuers were killed by the second drone attack, about 30 minutes after. Those who went to the scene of the attack might have seen the charred remains of his bike. He and his friend, Nasiru are no more.”

Our men who fought bandits are gone — Yahaya
As people were mobilized from neighbouring villages to come and assist the victims after the first attack, Yahaya Abubakar from neighbouring Ifira village escaped death by whiskers. Sadly, those who arrived the scene earlier were caught up by the second drone and many were killed.

Abubakar said, “Before this attack, the bandits were not able to attack Tudun Biri. The people fought them fiercely.

“But now most of the able men have been killed. Our fear now is that the bandits could attack us easily now. Those who fought them have been killed. I was lucky but our friend who rushed to the scene on his bike, was killed by the second drone.”

I’ve lost all my relatives, can’t go to Tudun Biri again – Hasiya

Hasiya Shuaibu, another survivor of the Kaduna bombing, looked worried. She said no one was left among her relatives in the community, as they were all gone due to the drone attack.

“I lost all my relatives. The attack affected our children, our younger and elderly relatives. We’ve lost an entire generation. The government should come to our rescue. I can’t go back to the village again,” she said.

Vanguard News

The Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (NASEME) Auchi, Edo State has graduated 292 officers for the 2023 fourth quarter courses.

NASEME Commandant, Brig. Gen Oladele Oluyede Arogundade, while speaking at the graduation ceremony congratulated and commended the students’ perseverance during the period of their courses on Wednesday.

He said NASEME has played a crucial role in providing Equipment Support to the Nigerian Army during various operations across the country.

The Commandant also commended the efforts of the staff and instructors in discharge of their duties, he enjoined them to do more for the good of the nation.

Arogundade urged the graduands be good ambassadors of the school and make maximum use of the knowledge acquired

“Across different fields of engineering as well as ensure they use it properly for the service of the Nigerian Army and Nigeria at large,” he said.

He added that the graduates should make a concerted effort to develop on the knowledge gained in order to reach the peak of their careers.

The students graduates on various skills development courses that include Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (EME), Company Commanders Course 18/23 (COC)

Others are Young Officers Course 37/23 (YOC), Upgrading 2-1 Course(all trades) and Basic Course (all trades) for the year 2023.

The event was capped with awards to deserving students that distinguished themselves during their course and group photograph.

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar has called on the newly graduated officers of the Special Forces of the Nigerian Air Force to respect and protect the members of their host communities.

Abubakar, who was represented by Air Vice Marshal Usman Abdullahi, Air Officer Commanding, Ground Training Command, Headquarters, made the call in Bauchi on Friday during the graduation ceremony of 135 students of the Special Forces Course 11/2023.

According to him, from the high quality of tactical display by the graduating students, there was no doubt that they had imbibed the basic skills and techniques required to conduct special operations in achieving the operational objectives of the Nigerian Air Force.

He explained that the successes of the Nigerian Air Force in shaping the battlespace and neutralising adversary capabilities had resulted in degrading operational capacity of bandits, insurgents and other criminal elements in different operational theatres.

“To the graduating students of Special Forces Course 11/2023, I am aware of the rigors of your training on ground, in the air and that’s why you have been decorated with your Special Forces emblem. I say well done.

“I therefore urge you to exhibit what you have learnt during the course whenever and wherever duty calls.

“This call will require you to exhibit courage, commitment and loyalty in the discharge of your duties.

“Once deployed, you are implored to treat your host communities with utmost respect as your task is to protect them from hostile threats,” he said.

Abubakar also appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his continuous support to the Nigerian Air Force despite the harsh economic realities and promised to continue to employ the available resources for the betterment of the country’s service.

Earlier, Aminu Bello, the Commanding Officer, Regiment Training Centre Annex, Nigerian Air Force, Bauchi, said a total of 308 Nigerian Air Force personnel of the Regiment Specialty were nominated to undergo Medical and Physical screening for the 93 days Special Forces Course.

He explained that out of the number, only 294 reported and 148 trainees scaled through the medical and physical screening tests.

According to him, these successful personnel commenced the training in September but at the end of the course, a total of 135 comprising five officers and 130 airmen completed the course.

“Trainees embarked on 10, 15 and 20 km loaded marches respectively with the objective of improving their endurance, even in rugged terrains.

“Several day and night live firing exercises were conducted to ensure that trainees were able to acquire and neutralise targets instinctively at short, medium and long distances.

“About 80% of these trainees came with no idea of swimming but at the end of the swimming phase, all of them graduated from basic to intermediate swimmers,” he said.