A tragic incident occurred on Wednesday in Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State, where a military fighter jet mistakenly bombed two communities, leaving at least ten people dead and several others injured.
The affected villages, identified as Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa, were reportedly targeted during a military operation against the Lakurawa terrorist group. However, innocent villagers fell victim to the airstrike.
The Sokoto State Government confirmed the incident in a statement. Governor Ahmed Aliyu visited the affected communities to sympathize with the residents and described the event as an unfortunate error.
“The military jets were on a mission to eliminate armed criminal groups terrorizing the state but mistakenly bombed innocent members of this community,” the governor said.
He emphasized that the military had previously conducted successful operations against criminal hideouts in the state and expressed confidence that the incident would be thoroughly investigated to prevent a recurrence.
Governor Aliyu prayed for the deceased and their families, urging patience and understanding from the affected communities.
Chairman of Silame Local Government Area, Abubakar Mohammed Daftarana, noted that the extent of casualties and damage is still being assessed. He stated that the operation was aimed at dismantling the Lakurawa terrorist network.
Meanwhile, military authorities issued a statement addressing the reports.
The spokesman for Operation Fansan Yamma, Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi, neither confirmed nor denied the alleged bombing but emphasized the risks of misinformation.
“All military operations are based on thorough intelligence and reconnaissance to ensure precision and minimize civilian casualties. The targets in Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa were positively identified as associated with the Lakurawa group, reinforcing the military action taken,” he said.
The military urged the public to rely on verified information to prevent misinformation and maintain trust in the ongoing fight against terrorism and banditry.
