UPDATED: Senators donate N109m December salary to Kaduna bombing victims
The leadership of the Nigerian Senate on Sunday announced the donation of N109 million being the December salary of members to the victims of the accidental bombing in Tudun Biri village in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, made the announcement when the leadership of the Senate paid the Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, a sympathy visit over the incident at the government house.
The PUNCH reports that the Kaduna State Government had said the Nigerian Army claimed responsibility for dropping bomb on Tudun Biri which left no fewer than 100 villagers dead penultimate Sunday.
Speaking on behalf of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Deputy Senate President told the governor that they were in the state to commiserate with him over the unfortunate incident which occurred at Tundun Biri that claimed no fewer that 100 lives.
He noted that the senate leadership and indeed the entire senators of the 10th National Assembly were greatly disturbed at the accidental bomb attack on Tudun Biri.
According to Barau, the upper chamber of the National Assembly will not leave any stone unturned in unravelling the circumstances that led to the unfortunate incident.
He said the senate in partnership with the executive arm of the government would thoroughly investigate the incident and punishment meted out to those found wanting.
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.”
The governor, in his response, urged the senators to collaborate with him in advocating for justice, stressing the necessity of a thorough investigation and the punishment of those responsible for the bombings.
He attributed the bombing incident to allegation of lack of coordination among the security agencies and armed forces.
He, however, appealed to the senators to support the call for the creation of state police, saying that it would equip security agencies with precise intelligence to avert similar incidents in the future.
Among the senators at the government who later visited the Barrau Dikko Teaching Hospital where the accidental bomb victims are receiving medical attention were Senate Majority Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele; Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume; Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Morro among others.
