On Sunday, the leadership of the Nigerian Senate declared the contribution of N109 million, equivalent to the December salary of its members, to aid the victims of the inadvertent bombing in Tudun Biri village within the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, disclosed this during a visit by the Senate leadership to the Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, to express condolences for the incident at the government house.

The Kaduna State Government had stated that the Nigerian Army took responsibility for the accidental bombing in Tudun Biri, resulting in the tragic death of at least 100 villagers the previous Sunday. Acting on behalf of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Deputy Senate President conveyed their sympathy to the governor, emphasizing the Senate’s profound concern over the unfortunate incident.

Barau underscored that both the Senate leadership and all senators of the 10th National Assembly were deeply troubled by the accidental bomb attack on Tudun Biri. He assured that the upper chamber of the National Assembly is committed to thoroughly investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. Furthermore, he asserted that the Senate, in collaboration with the executive branch, would ensure a comprehensive inquiry and appropriate punishment for those found culpable.

He said, “We are here to represent the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio and indeed, other senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in order to sympathisebwith you and condole you for the lost lives and those who sustained injuries in respect of the unfortunate incident that happened at Tundun Biri in Igabi Local Grovernment Area of Kaduna some few days ago.

“We are all worried. We are all disturbed but the only thing we can say now is for the Almighty Allah Grant those who lost their lives rest and those who sustained different degrees of injuries for Allah allow them have quick recovery..

“We are here to show our solidarity and to show the fact that we stand by the Government of Kaduna State and indeed the entire people of this state, particularly, the people of Tudun Biri in this trying period that the state is experiencing.”

In response, the governor urged the senators to join forces with him in championing the cause of justice, emphasizing the imperative of a comprehensive inquiry and the imposition of sanctions on those accountable for the bombings. He ascribed the bombing incident to an alleged lack of coordination among the security agencies and armed forces.

However, he appealed to the senators to endorse the plea for the establishment of state police, contending that it would empower security agencies with precise intelligence to prevent similar incidents in the future. Among the senators present at the government house, those who later visited the Barrau Dikko Teaching Hospital, where the victims of the accidental bombing are receiving medical attention, included Senate Majority Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Chief Whip Senator Ali Ndume, Senate Minority Leader Senator Abba Morro, and others.