PRESS RELEASE ON TUDUN BIRI BOMBING BY THE CONFERENCE OF AUTOCHTHONOUS ETHNIC NATIONALITIES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATIONS(CONAECDA)

THE CONFERENCE OF AUTOCHTHONOUS ETHNIC NATIONALITIES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATIONS

(CONAECDA)

15TH DECEMBER 2023

THE TUDUN BIRI ERROR

We received with pains the recent collateral killing of over 100 Citizens of Tudun Biri village of Kaduna State on 3rd December 2023.

The bombing of the village which the Nigeria army described as an error is one among many of such errors in the past 16 years of war against terrorist among which are the Boko Haram and the Bandits or

Yan-Bindiga terrorist groups.

One of the major courses of these “errors” has been the imbedding of these terrorists in communities where they terrorize civilians into silence or instances where the civilians become tacit supporters of the terrorists.

Another reason is the perception among Nigerians that some military officers use their offices to deliberately injure communities against which they hold some form of grudges.

It is these reasons that often lead sections of the communities to accuse the Nigerian army of biases and of deliberate attacks against their communities. The Bombing of the villages of the Bwatiye in Adamawa state, the Bombing of Bama in Borno State and of Areas in Southern Kaduna are examples of such “errors”. Our communities had previously called for detailed investigation of these errors; we therefore support the calls for

a detailed investigation, not only of the Tudun Biri incidence but of all previous incidences of “Bombing by error”.

The support of CONAECDA and its continued partnership with the Nigerian Armed forces meant that apart from the active involvement of members of our communities in various Civilian Joint task force, vigilantes, hunters and the NPF community police; we have consistently remain supportive of our sons and daughters serving in

the security agencies. It is our responsibility as citizens to contribute in national discuss and to support the security agencies while criticizing them where need be.

The error of Tudun Biri, appear however to be receiving an unprecedented attention, due in part to the religious coloration that sections of the Nigerian Public try to portray. We are however compelled to plead for caution.

Though it appears that the current Federal Government is deliberate in its desire to respond to humanitarian situations as is reflected in the assistance given to victims in the recent attacks on communities of the Mwaghavul nation in Plateau State and its response to the Bombing of Tudun Biri; those in Government need

to be careful so as not to leave the impression that the lives of Nigerians are valued based on ethnicity, religion or region.

We are compelled to call for caution because we believe that there is more to the Tudun Biri error than what is obvious to the public. Igabi local Government where Tudun Biri is located is one of the major hideouts of the Yan-Bindiga terrorists tormenting Kaduna, Plateau and Zamfara States.

The error of Tudun Biri should not be used as an excuse to hinder the Nigerian Armed forces from continuing their war against Yan-Bindiga terrorists across the Nation and in Igabi Local Government Area.

The call for compensation for lives lost in Tudun Biri should only be considered in the broader picture of past mistakes and potential future mistakes, which is known to be a reality during wars and is technically called collateral damages.

While Victims of Tudun Biri should not be neglected but be supported to rebuild their lives; championing the

interest and rights of the victims of the Tudun Biri attack should not amount to neglecting the reality that

millions of Nigerians, Victims of the Yan-Bindiga Terrorist groups are living in despicable conditions due to Government refusal to recognise the difference between Yan-Bindiga terrorism and the often-projected herders and farmers conflict. Despite the seeming connection between Yan-Bindiga Terrorist and the Fulani herders, the Government needs to clearly recognise the fact that millions of Nigerians are victims of the activities of the Yan Bindiga Terrorists. It is high time the Federal and State Governments, and the international community

recognize the activities of these terrorists, and immediately commence a deliberate and comprehensive rehabilitation Programme for victims.

We are glad that for the first time the Federal Government made an open pronouncement of its decision to

rebuild the destroyed Tudun Biri community and provide it with modern amenities. This is a step in the right direction, however, Previous victim communities and the hundreds of displaced communities should come first.

It is disturbing that the Federal Government should chose the misfortune that befall the Tudun Biri Community to announce yet another Fulani-herders centred programme called “Pulako initiative”. We read on the pages of newspapers explanation by public officers, including the Vice President, that this is a new initiative designed to

build ranches, houses and infrastructure as a soft approach to dealing with the so-called herder and farmers conflicts.

It is unfortunate that our public officers have failed to realise that being in public office is a trust and that public trust is required for any public project to succeed. The Federal Government’s lack of consultation, its persistent use of “experts” and its refusal to build trust between Government and various indigenous communities whose ancestral land is required for such failed programmes as Ruga; if repeated, will spell the doom of the Pulako initiative.

We advise that any non-kinetic approach to the Yan-Bindiga Terrorists and the Herders farmers conflicts; should have adequate inputs from the armed forces, the Traditional rulers, the cultural associations including Fulani

organisations and religious leaders. Though this path is difficult and remain torturous, it is the only way out.

We therefore call on the Federal Government to document and make public what the Pulako Initiative is all about so as to enable our communities make objective decisions on how to relate to the initiative.

Finally, we pray for the repose of the souls of the victims, healings for the wounded and comfort for those

bereaved.

SIGNED

SULEMAN A.D. SUKUKUM

SECRETARY GENERAL