Military Under Fire as Sokoto Airstrike Leaves Civilians Dead, Villages Devastated
A military airstrike targeting suspected Lakurawa terrorists in Sokoto State’s Silame Local Government Area on Wednesday morning left 10 civilians dead and several others injured, according to reports from residents and community leaders. The airstrike, conducted around 7 a.m., struck the villages of Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa, also destroying homes and livestock.
Governor Ahmed Aliyu visited the affected communities later in the day, offering condolences and promising a thorough investigation into the incident. Addressing residents after joining funeral prayers for the victims, the governor described the strike as unintentional and part of broader efforts to combat terrorism. "This was not deliberate. We must accept it as Muslims," Aliyu said, announcing relief packages of N20 million and 100 bags of grains for affected families.
Military officials defended the operation, stating that it was based on credible intelligence indicating the presence of Lakurawa terrorists in the area. Lt. Col. Abubakar Abdullahi, a representative of Operation Fansan Yamma, emphasized the importance of accurate information to avoid misinformation while asserting the military’s commitment to precision in their operations.
This incident is the latest in a series of accidental airstrikes in northern Nigeria, which have resulted in significant civilian casualties. Over the past decade, more than 450 civilians have reportedly been killed in such operations.
Notable previous incidents include a September 2024 airstrike in Kaduna that claimed 23 lives and a December 2023 tragedy, also in Kaduna, where over 100 civilians were killed during a Maulud celebration. These repeated occurrences have sparked ongoing debates about the balance between counterterrorism measures and the protection of civilian lives in Nigeria’s conflict-affected regions.
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