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.
The Sokoto State Government confirmed the incident in a statement on Wednesday.
The Press Secretary to the Sokoto State Governor, Abubakar Bawa, said visited the two communities that 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.
People gather for the funeral of the victims of the military bombing in Sokoto State on December 25, 2024.
He also prayed 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.
Efforts to speak with the police authority to confirm the incident were unsuccessful, and the mobile number of the Sokoto State Police Command’s spokesman was not connected.
Shortly after, 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.”