- Gov Aliyu Launches Probe Into ‘Avoidable Mistake’
In what is becoming a recurring issue, a fighter jet has mistakenly bombed two communities in the Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The incident, which happened on Wednesday, left at least 10 innocent villagers dead and several others injured.
In the same period in 2023, no fewer than 85 civilians were killed when an army drone mistakenly bombed a religious gathering in Kaduna.
The strike took place in Kaduna state’s Tudun Biri village and had children, women and the elderly among the victims.
Since 2017, more than 400 civilians have been killed by airstrikes that the military said were targeting armed groups in the deadly security crisis in the country’s north, according to the Lagos-based SBM Intelligence security firm.
Confirming the latest incident in a statement on Wednesday, December 25, 2024 the Sokoto State Government said the two communities were bombed by the military fighter jets.
The governor sympathised with the community and described the incident as unfortunate.
“The military jets were on their mission to eliminate criminals armed groups terrorizing the state, and mistakenly bombed innocent people of this community,” he said.
“We consider this as a mistake because the same military had on several occasions successfully raided so many criminal hideouts in the state.”
Aliyu stated that a thorough investigation would be conducted to find out what led to the avoidable mistake, so as to guard against its recurrence.
He also rayed to Almighty Allah to forgive the deceased and give their families the strength to bear the loss.
Also, the Chairman of Silame Local Government Area, Abubakar Mohammed Daftarana, identified the affected villages as Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa.
He said the fighter jets were reportedly targeting Lakurawa terrorists, adding that the team was working to assess the level of damage and casualties emanating from the airstrike.
According to Daftarana, it is too early to confirm the number of people either killed or injured because assessment is still ongoing.
The military authorities issued a statement on the incident.
The spokesman for Operation Fansan Yamma, Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi, however, did not confirm if military jets struck the communities.
He admitted that there is a significant risk that Lakurawa and other terrorist groups “may attempt to undermine military successes through media disinformation, necessitating caution concerning unverified claims, especially in the ongoing fight against terrorism and banditry.”
“The Joint Task Force North West Operation Fansan Yamma has addressed recent reports concerning a military fighter jet allegedly bombing civilian structures in the Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State,” he said.
“These reports have raised concerns; however, it is crucial to clarify that all military operations are conducted based on thorough intelligence and reconnaissance missions. This rigorous process is particularly important when targeting groups like the Lakurawa terrorist organisation, as it aims to ensure precision and protect civilian lives.
“Given the serious nature of these operations, the public is urged to rely on confirmed information to prevent misinformation and unnecessary panic.
“Importantly, the targets struck in the vicinity of Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa have been positively identified as associated with the Lakurawa group, reinforcing the justification for the military action taken.”
