Sokoto Military Strikes: 10 Dead As Strikes Hit Two Sokoto Villages

By: Olufemi Orunsola 

No fewer than 10 persons have been reportedly killed as military personnel fighter jets have mistakenly bombed two communities in the Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News gathered that the sad incident, which occured on Wednesday, left at least 10 innocent villagers dead while several others were injured.

The Sokoto State Government confirmed the incident in a statement on Christmas day as the governor sympathised with the community and described the incident as unfortunate.

The Press Secretary to the Sokoto State Governor, Abubakar Bawa, said visited the two communities that were bombed by the military fighter jets.

According to him, "The military jets were on their mission to eliminate criminals armed groups terrorizing the state, and mistakenly bombed innocent people of this community."

"We consider this as a mistake because the same military had on several occasions successfully raided so many criminal hideouts in the state," he said.

Aliyu further 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 therefore prayed to Almighty Allah to forgive the deceased and give their families the strength to bear the loss.

In a similar vein, the Chairman of Silame Local Government Area, Abubakar Mohammed Daftarana, has 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.

Daftarana emphasized that it is too early to confirm the number of people either killed or injured because assessment is still ongoing.

As at the time of filing this report, 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 could not be reached.

However, OTN News reports that the military authorities have 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.”