Defence Minister Visits Kaduna Bombing Victims, Reiterates Commitment to Counter Insurgency
The Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Ibrahim Kana, led a high-level delegation to visit victims of the recent accidental bombing by the Nigerian Army in Agabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The visit aimed to convey the Federal Government’s condolences to the victims, people, and government of the state.
In a statement by Mr Henshaw Ogubike, the Director of Press and Public Relations of the ministry, Matawalle condemned the unfortunate incident and expressed the government’s unwavering commitment to the fight against insurgency and terrorism despite the setback.
“We are not going to relent in our fight against terrorism because these criminals must be defeated. We are going to continue fighting the criminals till we succeed against banditry and other criminalities in this country,” asserted Minister Matawalle.
The minister, who visited the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Kaduna, where the injured victims were receiving treatment, stated that the visit was on the directive of President Bola Tinubu. Matawalle assured the Kaduna State Government of the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting the families of the victims.
Additionally, he announced the government’s intention to establish a panel of inquiry to investigate the cause of the incident and prevent future occurrences.
Governor Uba Sani, represented by Deputy Governor Dr Hadiza Balarabe, expressed heartfelt sympathies to the affected families and pledged unwavering support. Sani emphasized the need for Federal Government support in caring for the victims, acknowledging that the state government alone could not meet all their needs.
“The state government on its part has been able to maintain calm in the state in the face of the terrible incident. We have had engagements with clerics in the state to seek their support in talking with the affected communities for their understanding to douse the heated tension caused by this sad event,” said Governor Sani.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the minister’s entourage included top military leaders, such as the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, among others.