The people of Tudun Biri in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State have filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Kaduna against the federal Government of Nigeria.
The lawsuit was filed following the December 3 airstrike in the village which claimed lives. The villagers are demanding N33 billion for the damages caused to lives and properties.
The suit was filed by Dalhatu Salihu on December 8, by one of the villagers.
Background
On December 3, the celebration of the Islamic Maulud, a military airstrike claimed the lives of villagers of Tudun Biri in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria.
It was estimated that 85 people were subsequently buried by the villagers. While 66 people were seriously injured.
Responding to this, the Nigerian Army also claimed responsibility for the bombing asserting it was an accidental strike.
The Jurist Newspaper also reported that the Kaduna bombing was not the only bombing which has claimed several lives in Nigeria.
Following the Kaduna accodental airstrike, the FG ordered an immediate investigation into the matter and promised that all involved in the mischief would be brought to face the wrath of the law.
Villagers file Lawsuit
Mr Dalhatu approached the court on behalf of the people of Tudun Biri over the bombing which killed his people.
The case was filed at the Kaduna High Court on December 8, though Dalhatu’s lawyer.
They are demanding a compensation of N33 billion for the lost of lives of their people.
They also demanded a public apology in at least three national newspapers.
They said the suit was to ensure and enforce the fundamental rights of the survivors of the incident.
One of the reliefs read “A declaration that the act of striking dead, by way of aerial bombardment of the deceased victims herein while celebrating the Islamic Maulud at their village of Tudun Biri in Igabi Local Government Area on the 3rd day of December 2023 by the personnel under the command and supervision of the 3rd respondent (the Chief of Army Staff) amounts to a violation of the deceased victims’ fundamental rights to life as enshrined in Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and Article 10(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification Enforcement) Act (Cap 10) LFN 2010 and hence ultra vires the respondents, illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.”
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Court hearing
The court is yet to fix a date for the hearing of the matter.