At least ten villagers lost their lives in a tragic military airstrike on Gidan Bisa and Runtuwa villages in Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State in the early hours of Wednesday. The airstrike, intended to target bandits terrorizing the area, mistakenly hit civilians and livestock.
The Chairman of Silame Local Government, Abubakar Gitta Rana, confirmed the incident, stating that two military jets dropped bombs on the villages at approximately 6 a.m., resulting in the loss of lives and significant damage.
Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu, accompanied by APC leader Sen. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko and Minister of Labour and Employment Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, visited the affected community and joined funeral prayers for the deceased.
Addressing the villagers, Governor Aliyu described the incident as a deeply unfortunate mistake, emphasizing that the military had previously conducted successful operations against criminal groups in the state. He assured the community of a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the error and prevent future occurrences.
“The military jets were on a mission to eliminate armed criminals who have been terrorizing the state but mistakenly bombed innocent members of this community. We consider this an unfortunate mistake,” the governor said.
To support the grieving families, the state government announced a donation of ₦20 million and 100 bags of assorted food items. Additionally, the government pledged to cover the medical expenses of those injured during the incident.
Governor Aliyu prayed for the souls of the deceased and for strength for their families to bear the loss.
The incident has raised concerns among residents about the safety of military operations in civilian areas. A call for increased precision and accountability in anti-banditry operations is now echoing across the state.
