By Deborah Coker

The Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, has visited victims of the recent accidental bombing by the Nigerian Army in Agabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State with a pledge for a more concerted fight against terrorism.

Matawalle, alongside the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Ibrahim Kana, led a high-level delegation to visit and express the Federal Government’s condolences to the victims, people and government of the state.

This is contained in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday by Mr Henshaw Ogubike, Director, Press and Public Relations of the ministry.

The minister, while condemning the unfortunate incident, said in spite of what had happened, the fight against insurgency and terrorism would continue.

According to him, the unfortunate incident will not deter the government from the fight against terrorism.

“We are not going to relent in our fight against terrorism because these criminals must be defeated.

“We are going to continue fighting the criminals till we succeed against banditry and other criminalities in this country.”

Matawalle, who was also at the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Kaduna, where the injured victims were receiving treatment and the Government House, said the visit was on the directive of President Bola Tinubu.

He assured the Kaduna State Government of the Federal Government’s commitment to support the families of the victims.

He added that the government was going to set up a panel of inquiry to ascertain the cause of the incident in order to prevent future occurrence.

In his response, Gov Uba Sani, represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, offered heartfelt sympathies to the affected families and pledged unwavering support to the families of the victims.

Sani stressed that while they awaited the findings from the panel of inquiry, the Federal Government’s support in taking care of the victims was needed as the state government alone could not meet their needs.

“The state government on its part has been able to maintain calm in the state in the face of the terrible incidence.

“We have had engagements with clerics in the state to seek their support in talking with the affected communities for their understanding in order to douse the heated tension caused by this sad event,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the minister had in his entourage, top military leaders, including the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, among others. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman