Eyewitness said the incident occurred at approximately 5:00 am, causing significant alarm among residents.

The helicopter said to be on a routine operational flight, experienced technical difficulties that led to the crash. Fortunately, the pilot managed to execute emergency protocols effectively, ensuring his survival.

Eyewitnesses at the scene reported that the pilot emerged from the wreckage largely unscathed.

Residents of Tami village quickly gathered at the crash site, offering assistance where possible and expressing relief that no lives were lost.

“We heard a loud noise and rushed to the scene. We were surprised and relieved to see the pilot alive,” said a local villager who witnessed the crash.

It was gathered that a team of military officers from the Nigerian Air Force swiftly arrived at the scene to secure the area and conduct an initial investigation.

It was also gathered that the death toll from the incident had increased to 120 as officials of Amnesty International who visited the affected communities confirmed the increase in the death toll.

An air strike intended to flush out terrorists had on Sunday night accidentally hit civilians during a religious celebration at Tudun Biri.

While the Army claimed responsibility for the incident, the National Emergency Management Agency had on Monday night put the casualty figure at 85, adding that 66 victims sustained injuries.

But the accidental bombing on Tuesday attracted more condemnations from the pan-Northern political and cultural association, the Arewa Consultative Forum, and the Jama’tu Nasril Islam, saying that those found culpable should be punished.

On their part, President Bola Tinubu, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar mourned the victims of the bombing.

As the nation mourned the dead, survivors of the bombing recounted their experiences.

Forty-five-year-old Saudatu Alamagani, said the community was bombed twice.

Alamagani, who narrowly escaped being killed in the attack, said the incident started like a Nollywood movie around 10pm when a large number of Muslims celebrating Maulud, the birthday of Muhammad, were bombed.

She said while celebrating the Maulud, “The military started raining bombs on us’’, adding that at first, the worshippers mistook their attackers to be bandits.

She stated that while everybody scampered for safety, dead bodies littered “everywhere.”

She stated that while members of the community went in search of motorcycle operators to convey the critically injured to the nearest medical facilities for treatment, the military bombed the community again.

“They bombed us twice,” she said, adding that “it all started around 10pm when the military started bombing our community. We were celebrating the Maulud, the birthday of Prophet Muhammad.

“While we were looking for motorcycles to convey those that critically needed medical attention to the hospital, the military returned with the bombardment. Many villagers including women, men, children, and even pregnant women were killed during the attack.

“Four members of my family were killed in the attack. Some of the bodies of the dead littered the ground.”

Saudatu appealed to the government to assist members of the community, especially victims’ families to cushion the effect of the bomb attack.

Another survivor, 60-year-old Sulaiman Umar, told our correspondents that the village was bombed twice.

He stated, “I was eating that night when we were bombed. Many people died. We could hardly identify our children; some with their intestines out. They bombed us twice. After the first round of bombs, they came back to bomb us again.

“I ran into a deep forest where I slept till daybreak. We covered the dead with leaves. We separated the males from the females and covered them with leaves.”

Giving an update on the tragic incident, The Country Director of Amnesty International, Isah Sanusi, said officials of the organisation were on the ground at the affected communities and counted over 120 persons who died in the bombing.

He said, “I can confirm to you that the current number of casualties in the affected areas is more than 120 persons.”

He explained that there were at least 77 bodies buried in each of the mass graves, insisting that the casualty figure was higher than what NEMA stated.

“According to our contact who was at the scene of the mass burial, there were at least 77 dead bodies in each of the mass graves. There also 17 other persons who are from adjoining villages who lost their lives in the ugly incident,” he stated.

But the NEMA Chief Information Officer, Kaduna State, Halima Suleman, told one of our correspondents that the casualty figure of 85 persons released on Monday by the agency had not been updated when contacted on Tuesday.

She, however, stated that NEMA was intervening in the affected communities, as it took some of the injured persons to hospitals and was providing relief items to others.

“We are, of course, intervening in the communities, because our officials are on the ground there today. They took some persons to hospitals, provided relief items and gave moral support,” she stated.

But the pan-Northern socio-political organisation, ACF, and the Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar lll led Jama’atu Nasril Islam, called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the military bombing.

Reacting separately to the incident, the ACF described it as “horrific”, noting that the northern organisation was highly disturbed that such an operation could be contemplated and executed in the densely populated area, “suggesting an inexcusable, scandalous and plausibly incompetent failure of intelligence.”

In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammed-Baba, on Tuesday, the forum commiserated with the state government and families of victims, praying that “God grant the dead peace.”

The forum noted that efforts must be put in place to avert such “avoidable” loss of lives and property in the future, adding that communities in the Northern states had had enough problems with banditry and should not in any way be further inflicted with more pains.

Consequently, the ACF demanded an apology from the Nigerian Army as well as a full, thorough, honest, and open investigation of the incident, to establish what exactly happened.

According to the ACF, any and all those found guilty of professional or operational incompetence must be severely disciplined, and transparently so.

It also noted that the investigation must be undertaken with the full participation of the people of the affected community (who must not be intimidated into keeping quiet about the gory details of their losses).

“For emphasis, the Kaduna State Government has a duty to act to protect the interest of the victims and not the Nigerian Army personnel that perpetrated the incident.

“Full compensation must be paid for the dead in accordance with current Islamic diya value for individual lives.

“The injured must not only be fully treated free of charge but must also be rehabilitated on full recovery, as well as fully compensated for losses of livelihoods and incomes while on the road to full recovery,” the statement added.

On its part, the JNI in a statement by its Secretary-General, Prof. Khalid Abubakar-Aliyu, reiterated the organisation’s commitment to seeking justice for the victims’ families.

The statement partly read, “The Jama’atu Nasril Islam, representing the collective voice of the Ummah, stands in profound consternation and grief over the tragic incident that unfolded at Tudun-Biri village in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, during a Maulud celebration, as was reported.

“It is thus with heavy hearts that we express our deepest condolences and sympathies to the families, as well as the loved ones of the deceased victims, and we fervently pray for the swift recovery and healing of those injured. “JNI therefore vehemently condemns this tragic incident in its entirety and calls for a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the devastating and most unfortunate event. We urge authorities to ensure that those responsible are held accountable in accordance with the subsisting laws.”

The Senate also confirmed the ministerial nomination of 37-year-old Dr Jamila Ibrahim from Kwara State and 34-year-old Ayodele Olawande from Ondo State.

However, after the screening of Ibrahim, who took the podium first, the session was thrown into pandemonium during the screening of Balarabe, who fainted on the podium shortly after introducing himself to the Senate.

Balarabe had just finished sharing his experiences and track record with the senators when the incident occurred, about 15 minutes into his screening session.

Senator Sunday Katung from Kaduna South Senator was on his feet making submissions in support of Balarabe’s nomination when the nominee suddenly collapsed.

The incident saw the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, shouting, “Give him (Balarabe) sugar and water!”

Akpabio also instructed journalists and cameramen to stop filming and to leave the Senate chamber.

The nominee was then taken to the National Assembly clinic.

There was total confusion in the chamber when doctors rushed in with their first aid equipment, to revive the ministerial nominee who was already put on a seat.

After regaining his strength and composure, the nominee pleaded with the Senate to allow him to continue with the session but he was told to go and attend to his health.

The Senate then resumed after about a 45-minute break to screen the third nominee, Olawande.

The three nominees were subsequently confirmed by the Senate.

The three addition brings the President’s ministerial appointees to 48.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Senate, Yemi Adaramodu, explained that the Senate went on to confirm Balarabe notwithstanding that he fainted because he had passed all the necessary checks.

Adaramodu said, “The nominee has been stabilised and he is fine now. Due to fatigue, he went down during his screening.

“The nominee wanted to continue but the Senate told him to go and seek further medical attention and rest.

“We told him we had his resumé, which is very rich, so we didn’t see the need to belabour him anymore.

“The nominees wanted to continue with the screening but the Senate insisted that he shouldn’t. We told him that truly he wanted to serve Nigeria but he can’t serve Nigerian in death. He needs to be alive to serve.

“We have seen his resumé, we have heard from him and all necessary security checks have been confirmed.”

Adaramodu added that the Senate was also impressed by the performance of the two youthful nominees.

Some of the foodstuffs and other items distributed to the mostly the Almajiri, beggars under the aegis of the Association of Persons with Disabilities at the Kano Road Central Mosque, Kaduna, in the state capital, included bags of rice, bags of maize, millets, as well as plastic kettles.

The General Overseer of the church, Pastor Yohanna Buru, while speaking to newsmen shortly after the distribution exercise, said the church was targeting over 1000 underprivileged Muslims across the North.

The cleric said the distribution of the foodstuff and other items was aimed at cushioning the effect of the naira redesign, fuel scarcity as well as hike in prices of foodstuffs on the underprivileged in the society.

In addition, Buru noted that the gesture was also aimed at strengthening the peaceful co-existence and religious tolerance among the residents of the states in the region.

“We are also reciprocating the gesture of Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani, a Muslim woman who shares bags of rice, cash and new clothes for the Church widows and orphans during Christmas, New Year and Easter celebrations,” he added.

According to him, last year, the church distributed bags of rice, maize and other food items to poor Muslims across five northern states to enable them to participate fully in the 30-day fasting and prayers in the month of Ramadan.

In this year’s distribution, we added mats and plastic kettles so they could stay at home and pray for God to bring an end to the rising problems of insecurity, high inflation, and other problems bedevilling the peace and stability in the country.

We are targeting over 1000 poor Muslims as we bought 50 bags of maize and millets to share in some parts of the North,” he added.

While appealing to well-meaning individuals to come to the aid of the less privileged, the cleric called on traders to desist from the arbitrary increase in prices of foodstuff during the Holy Month of Ramadan fasting.

“As Muslims around the world commence the 30 days fasting and prayers, we wish Muslims all over the world a happy Ramadan Kareem in advance,” he said.

Receiving the items, one of the  leaders of the Association of Persons Living with Disabilities in the state, Mallam Hassan Mohammed, expressed delight over the gesture, which he said had spanned for over 10 years.

According to him, for the past 10 years the church has been consistent in giving the association foodstuff and other items for use during the 30 days of Ramadan.

He, therefore, appealed to  wealthy Muslims “to help us with foodstuff to enable us stay at home and pray for the nation.”

We really appreciate our Christian brothers and sisters because the help they rendered came at a point of need, when no one is bothered about us,” he added.

A source told one of our correspondents that no fewer than 30 residents of the area were taken away by the hoodlums in the raid that took place on Monday night.

The attack is coming barely three weeks after bandits raided nearby Sabon Gero Community of the new Millenium City in the same LGA, killing a Civilian Joint Task Force’s Commander and a resident of the area.

At the same time, 16 people, including a medical doctor, were abducted.

Although the state government or the police command had yet to confirm the Monday night incident, a source said the police had visited the attack scene.

“As we speak, the police had just gone there (Keke) where the attack happened. The attackers came around 9:00 pm during downpour. Many were abducted,” the source added.

The terrorists kidnapped the parish priest, Rev Fr Joseph Shekari, and killed a yet-to-be-identified cook working in the parish house during the attack.

The cook was killed when the marauders stormed the place at 11:30pm on Sunday

Channels Television reported that the gunmen invaded the school on Monday night and started shooting sporadically, creating fear and anxiety among the students and staff of the school.

They later took an unconfirmed number of students away to an unknown destination before local vigilantes arrived and stopped them from abducting more students.

Kaduna Police Command spokesperson, Mohammed Jalige confirmed the incident, saying that the police Tactical team is currently at the school to confirm the number of students kidnapped and how the incident happened.

According to a statement released by the Director-General of Quality Assurance Authority in the Ministry of Education, Umma Ahmed, the closure of the schools which are privately owned is with immediate effect.

He gave the names of the affected schools as Faith Academy, along Kachia Road adjacent to Jakaranda; Deeper Life Academy, Maraban Rido; ECWA Secondary School, Ungwar Maje and Bethel Baptist High School, Damishi. Others are St. Peters Minor Seminary, Katari, Prelude Secondary School, Kujama, Ibiso Secondary school, Tashar Iche, Tulip International (Boys) School and Tulip international (Girls) School.

Also on the list are Goodnews Secondary School, St. Augustine, Kujama, Comprehensive Development Institution (CDI), Tudun Mare and Adventist College, Kujama.

The statement reads “You are hereby advised to adhere to the contents of this letter as appropriate sanctions shall be meted out to schools that are found wanting for non-compliance, please”

He also said the government would continue to work hard until bandits were contained in the state.

The Commissioner said, “Contrary to the mischief in some sections of the media, the bond between Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai and the parents of the abducted students of Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, and other citizens in captivity, is deep empathy amidst spirited efforts to secure them. The Governor will continue to work hard until banditry is contained, without succumbing to emotional blackmail and gradual politicization of the unfortunate situation. For instance, some section of the media have been reporting the parents’ responses to a purported threat by the Governor to prosecute them, which is simply false and deeply mischievous. The statement of the government warning impostors who have been presenting themselves as Government-appointed emissaries to negotiate with bandits across the state has nothing to do with the parents or relatives of the abducted students or any other person in captivity. It was rather directed primarily to some identified individuals exploiting the security situation in the state and neighbouring states. Finally, the state government will not join issues with the parents whose pain we understand and with whom we share the common goal of the return of all the abducted students. The state government continues to work towards crushing banditry, kidnapping and other acts of criminality menacing our people and communities. We believe that most people of goodwill share this desire, and we urge everyone to be wary of those who see in the misery of others only an opportunity for needless controversy.”

The state government disclosed this in a statement titled, “‘Why Kaduna is right-sizing its public service,’ issued by the Special Adviser to the state Governor on Media and Communication, Mr Muyiwa Adekeye.

Justifying its decision to lay off workers, the Kaduna State  Government said what   it had been receiving “from FAAC (the Federation Account Allocations Committee) since the middle of 2020, like most other sub-nationals, can barely pay salaries and overheads.’’

It said, ‘’In November 2020,  the KDSG had only N162.9m left after paying salaries. That month, Kaduna State got N4.83bn from FAAC and paid N4.66bn as wages. In the last six months, personnel costs have accounted for between 84.97% and 96.63% of FAAC transfers received by the Kaduna State Government. In March 2021, Kaduna State had only N321m left after settling personnel costs. This does not include standing orders for overheads, funding security operations, running costs of schools and hospitals, and other overhead costs that the state has to bear for the machinery of government to run, for which the state government taps into the internally generated revenue earnings. Therefore, the state government has no choice but to shed some weight and reduce the size of the public service. It is a painful but necessary step to take, for the sake of the majority of the people of this state.”