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  • Everything to Know About the Drone Attack in Kaduna Village

    On the night of December 3, 2023, Nigerian military drones “mistakenly” attacked a village called Tundun Biri in Kaduna State. This horrible incident in which the Nigerian Army bombed civilians isn’t the biggest news in the country right now. But it should be, so we took it upon ourselves to compile everything to know about it.

    An Eid-el-Maulud celebration

    It all started when locals of Tundun Biri village came together to celebrate the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad. According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) North-West Zonal Office, the bombing started around 9 p.m. Observers recounted that the first bomb ended over 30 lives on the spot. As people raced to help the injured and dead, a jet dropped another bomb.

    Image source: X.com

    The death count

    As of December 5, NEMA has the official death count at 85, with 66 injured and receiving treatment at the Barau Dikko Hospital. However, an anonymous officer revealed that the army received at least 126 dead civilian bodies.

    Tinubu speaks

    President Bola Tinubu is currently at the COP28 Climate Summit in Dubai, but he conveyed his condolences through his spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, condemning the drone attack. He also called for a thorough investigation into the “bombing mishap”.

    The Nigerian Army’s response

    The General Officer, Commanding 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major-General Valentine Okoro, admitted that the attack came from the Nigerian Army. As the commander of the division that caused the mishap, Okoro gave a statement to Samuel Aruwan, Kaduna’s Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs. Apparently, it was an error made while the drone operators were on a routine mission against terrorists. The Army spokesman, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, said the aerial patrol troops mistook the celebration for terrorist activities. 

    Image source: X.com

    On December 5, the Nigerian Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, visited the village to commiserate with the families of the deceased and apologise to the village. He also promised to cover the hospital bills. But who will answer for the bombing of these innocent people?

    CAN, Amnesty International and other NGOs

    The Kaduna chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Amnesty International, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), among other non-govermental organisations, have condemned the military’s mishit. The chairman of the CAN Kaduna chapter, Reverend John Hayab, said they’ll continue to pray for the government, while the AYCF National President, Shettima Yerima, charged the government to launch an investigation.

    Not the first bombing mishaps

    In 2023, there have been three bombing mishap cases. The first happened in Niger State on January 24. The second killed over 40 herders in Nasarawa State two days later. According to research, at least 425 Nigerians have perished due to military “error” bombing between 2017 and 2023. 

    The Nigerian Air Force denies involvement

    Although the Nigerian Air Force is behind the first two cases of bombing civilians by mistake this year, it quickly disassociated itself from the Tundun Biri incident. On Monday, December 4, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) released a statement through its Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet. According to him, NAF had nothing to do with the attack and hadn’t operated in the state or its surroundings in a while. “The NAF is not the only organisation operating combat-armed drones in the Northwestern region of Nigeria.”

    Citizens protest

    On December 7, protesters marched to the National Assembly and demanded the immediate resignation of Badaru Abubakar, the Minister of Defence. In Zaria Local Government Area, Kaduna State, a group of youths took to the streets to protest the brutal bombing.

    Tomide Marv

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  • It’s a new year and I’m here to make noise about you people getting off your asses and seeing more of Nigeria. At least before they give you your Canada visa and you tell us ‘e go be‘ you should see what the tea plantations of Gembu look like and just how blue Wikki warm spring is. The teacher’s daughter in me could never miss out on an opportunity to teach you people good manners. So here are a couple of things I thought you should know before you head up to Northern Nigeria.

    Everyone in Northern Nigeria is not Hausa.

    Please don’t attempt to use the three phrases you learned from your only Hausa friend while talking to a Margi person

    The whole of Northern Nigeria isn’t being ravaged by Boko Haram or herdsmen, so don’t listen to your friends that keep shouting it isn’t safe.

    That doesn’t mean you should just skip into a state like Borno casually o, do your googles. Read up on the latest news reports coming from there.

    Try to respect yourself.

    If you are in a town where they have rules like once it’s past six everyone shouldn’t wear slippers again, then don’t wear the slippers. If you can’t do that then don’t go there.

    You know how you call all Northern looking men Aboki in your city? Keep that nonsense there.

    It’s just plain disrespectful.

    Learn how to keep your ignorance to yourself.

    If you thought Northern Nigeria was all brown grass and cows, there is no need to let all the locals you meet know that you didn’t know any better.

    Not everyone is Muslim, a very large percent of Northerners are actually Christians.

    So except you are sure someone is Muslim, keep your Assalamualaikum to yourself.

    Google maps works great in cities like Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt but will betray you when you find yourself in a village in Jos.

    So let the locals show you around, and if you have money MONEY just get a guide.

    The popular places like Yankari and Kajuru Castle are great but there’s so much more to see.

    Going to Abuja and Kaduna ten times doesn’t count as exploring the north.

    It’s ridiculously beautiful and you are going to ask yourself several times why it took you so long to come see it.

    Seriously what are you waiting for?

    If you want evidence that northern Nigeria is not just brown grass and cows before you go, then you need to see Up North. Watch the trailer below.

    Toketemu Ohwovoriole

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  • With the vast amount of history Nigeria has, it’s sad that students hardly learn about events that happened in the past. But these days, we have social media to thank for schooling us on fun and sometimes hard facts of history. This Twitter account, @ArewaHistory is dedicated to curating Nigerian history-specifically Northern history with rare pictures of people that helped shape the North and the country in general.

    1. This photo of Musa Yar’adua and India’s first Prime Minister.

    2. These little Northern girls and a British soldier.

    3. Aliyu Makama Bida gisting with Queen Elizabeth.

    4. Atiku Abubakar during his baby boy days.

    5. The first northerners to ever visit Europe.

    6. Professor Shehu Shagari, speaking strongly against the racism in South Africa at the time.

    7. This rare picture of Dangote before he hammered.

    8. Students at a motor mechanics class in 1959.

    9. The wedding intivitation to IBB and Maryam’s wedding.

    10. Emir of Katsina, checking out a traffic sign with his squad.

    Maryam

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  • Today On Firsts, A 25-Year-Old Is Nigeria’s First Female Local Government Chairman

    You probably never thought you’d see a 25-year-old female become a local government council chairman in Nigeria, but Hindatu Umar just shattered that glass ceiling.

    Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, recently appointed Umar as the Chairperson of Argungu LGC, following the expiration of the former chairman’s tenure. Hindatu was previously the Deputy Chairman.

    However, there have been ridiculous complaints over the appointment, because Hindatu is a young single female, with only secondary school certification.

    If you’re familiar with Northern Nigeria’s culture of excluding women from political and economic discussions, you won’t find the outrage surprising. Northern states have high female illiteracy levels and President Buhari’s administration has been criticized for the low number of female political appointees.

    Hindatu Umar has broken a record, please join us in celebrating her.

    Shola

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