The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja has described the deadly airstrike that killed 85 people and injured several others in Kaduna State as regrettable.
Lagbaja, who visited the victims two days after the accidental strike in their Igabi area of the North-West state, promised to guard against such an occurrence in the conduct of military operations.
“My assessment of that unfortunate incident of Sunday, December 3, 2023, is that it is grave, regrettable. We will do everything possible to prevent such an occurrence from happening again in the conduct of our operations going forward,” he said about one of the country’s deadliest military bombing accidents.
“I have gone round to visit and interact with the members of the community. I have come again to the hospital to see the injured. This will help me to know the level of expertise I need to put on the table in conducting the inquiry into what happened.”
The army chief, who also visited the site of the mishap that has thrown the nation into a sorrowful mood, apologised on behalf of the Nigerian Army to the community, the government, and the people of Kaduna State.

He was accompanied by principal staff officers from the army headquarters and the General Officer Commanding 1 Division and also met with the Dangaladima Zazau, the District Head of Rigasa, Architect Aminu Idris, other leaders, and members of the community.
Already, President Bola Tinubu had condoled with the victims of the incident.