8th December, 2023
By Salisu Sani-Idris
Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday revealed that President Bola Tinubu has directed that the Pullako Initiative should be kick-started in Tudun Biri village, Kaduna State, as a compensation for last Sunday’s mistaken bombing of the villagers.
Shettima who revealed this at a meeting with stakholders in the Tudun Biri community explained that the Pullako package includes houses, clinics, schools, veterinary clinics, empowerment initiatives and solar energy, among others.
He said the amenities would be provided in Tudun Biri community as compensation for the destruction caused by the drone misfire, the Spokesman of the Vice-President, Stanley Nkwocha, said in a statement on Thursday.
The statement revealed that Shettima also visited the victims at the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital in Kaduna, where some of the casualties, most of whom are women and children, are receiving treatment.
Some Muslim faithful observing the Maulud celebration were mistakenly killed and many others injured following mistaken military drone attacks, reportedly targeting terrorists and bandits in the village..
Shettima also directed the Management of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to mobilise and provide adequate support to the victims.
Shettima, who battled to hold back tears, enjoined NEMA to ensure that the victims get adequate relief materials.
The vice-president at a meeting with leaders and other stakeholders of the community, said “most importantly, the President has approved the commencement of the Pullako Initiative by next month.
“The Pullako Initiative is the President’s unique response as a non-kinetic approach to the challenges in the North West.
“Beneficiary states are Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and for the purpose of equity and justice, we deliberately included Niger and Benue states.
“Actually, our intention was to kick off the programme in Sokoto, but in the light of recent development, the President directed that the Pullako Initiative should be kick-started here in Kaduna State.
“And Tudun Biri will be the first beneficiary of that scheme. We are going to build houses that will complement the efforts of the Speaker.
“But ours is a complete package as well, including houses, clinics, schools, veterinary clinics, empowerment initiatives and solar energy.
“It’s a complete package of solutions as a non-kinetic response to the problems of banditry and kidnapping in the North West.”
The vice-president, who noted that President Tinubu is worried about the tragic incident, pointed out that away from the number of casualties, it is gruesome to lose even one life.
Taking a leaf from the late Dele Giwa, Shettima said, “I am here because the President is deeply concerned.
“He was deeply touched by what happened. As the late Dele Giwa rightly said, let’s not talk about the numbers; ‘one life taken in cold blood is as gruesome as millions lost in a pogrom.
“The heart of the President is with the bereaved families. We were in the hospital to sympathise with the victims.
“And be rest assured that the Federal Government stands by the affected community, the government and the people of Kaduna State on this unfortunate incident.
“As already directed by Mr President, an investigation is being conducted to prevent a repeat of the incident and we expect a report to be submitted in the shortest possible time.”
Shettima thanked religious leaders and elders of the community for not yielding to what he described as a plot to politicise the incident in an attempt to inflame passions.
“I want to register our profound gratitude to our religious leaders, to our community leaders, who have served as stabilising forces in this trying moment.
“Efforts were made to politicise, to inflame passions, but our leaders chose to err on the part of decency, on the part of moderation, on the part of maturity, and I cannot but thank you most profoundly.
“Incidentally, among them are two of my friends, Dr Imam Tukur and Sheikh Al-Misri. They are my very good friends and I want to thank you,” he noted.
Earlier at the hospital, the Chief Medical Director, Dr Shuaibu Musa, told Shettima that the hospital received 71 victims with different degrees of injuries.
He said some of the casualties have been referred to 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna.
The vice-president was accompanied by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna, APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, and the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru.
Others are senior government officials who moved from bed to bed consoling victims of the attack. (NAN)