An airstrike targeting bandits in Sokoto State has claimed the lives of 10 civilians, igniting outrage among residents and sparking conflicting narratives between local authorities and the military.
The incident occurred early Wednesday morning in the communities of Gidan Bisa and Runtuwa within Silame Local Government Area. Military jets, reportedly pursuing Lakurawa terrorists, dropped bombs that residents say mistakenly struck civilian areas.
Silame Local Government Chairman, Hon. Abubakar Gitta Rana, condemned the attack as an error, revealing that in addition to human casualties, livestock and property were also destroyed. “This was a tragic and erroneous attack on innocent villagers who had no connection to the terrorists,” he said.
However, the military’s Joint Task Force (JTF) North West, operating under Operation Fasan Yamma, refuted these claims, insisting that the airstrike was a precision operation targeting identified terrorist hideouts. In a statement, Lt. Col. Abdullahi Abubakar dismissed allegations of civilian casualties, urging the public to be wary of misinformation propagated by bandits and their collaborators.
Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State visited the affected communities alongside Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, a prominent APC leader, and Minister of Labour and Employment Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi. The governor participated in funeral prayers for the deceased and offered his condolences to the grieving families.
Addressing the tragic incident, Governor Aliyu called it an “unfortunate mistake” and assured residents of a thorough investigation to uncover the truth and prevent future occurrences. “The jets were deployed to eliminate criminal groups terrorizing our state, but sadly, innocent civilians became unintended victims,” he said.
As part of immediate relief measures, the state government announced a ₦20 million donation and the provision of 100 bags of foodstuffs to assist the bereaved families. It also committed to covering the medical expenses of those injured in the attack.
The tragedy has raised questions about the challenges of precision in military operations and the accountability of armed forces in counterterrorism efforts. Human rights organizations and community leaders have called for an independent inquiry to ensure transparency and justice for the victims.
The incident underscores the difficulties of balancing security operations with the safety of civilian populations, a recurring issue in Nigeria’s ongoing fight against terrorism and banditry.
[Vanguard]
