In a recent interview with Arise TV, Prof Usman Yusuf, the former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), expressed deep concern over the tragic incident in Tudun Biri Village, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna.
The incident occurred as residents were celebrating Maulud Nabbiy, the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, leading to the erroneous bombing by the Nigerian Army, resulting in the death of over 120 individuals.
During the interview, Yusuf emphasized the unfavorable optics for both the Nigerian Army and the presidency in light of the incident. He highlighted the tragic irony that, despite having Muslim leadership at the helm with the President and Vice President, Muslims in the North continue to suffer. Yusuf pointed out that the lead-up to the 2023 general elections saw Islamic clerics in the region promoting a purported Muslim-Muslim ticket, which has now raised concerns among the populace.
“The Muslim clerics in the North came and sold this fraudulent Muslim-Muslim ticket, and we have a Muslim Vice President and Muslim President. Our people in the North are saying you are killing Muslims, inflicting a lot more pain on Muslims,” Yusuf lamented. He cited instances such as the closure of borders along all seven Northern states and military actions that have raised tensions and led to unfortunate incidents like the Kaduna bombing.
Yusuf urged caution within the military hierarchy, emphasizing the need for prompt damage control. He called for a careful examination of the operational Military hierarchy, pointing out that people are being mischievous by attributing religious motives to recent events.
The former NHIS Executive Secretary stressed the importance of the military addressing these concerns swiftly to rebuild public trust and mitigate the impact of such incidents on communal relations.
