Ten people were killed in a tragic military airstrike targeting bandits in Gidan Bisa village of Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State in the early hours of Wednesday.
According to the Chairman of Silame Local Government, Abubakar Gitta Rana, the military airstrike occurred at about 6 a.m. when two military fighter jets erroneously dropped bombs in the village. The strike resulted in the deaths of 10 villagers and numerous livestock.
Governor Ahmed Aliyu, accompanied by APC leader Sen. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, braved the challenging terrain to join the community for the funeral prayers of the victims.
Describing the incident as unfortunate, Governor Aliyu expressed condolences to the community and attributed the tragedy to divine destiny.
“The military jets were on a mission to eliminate armed criminal groups terrorizing the state but mistakenly bombed innocent residents of this community,” he stated. “We consider this a mistake, as the military has successfully neutralized many criminal hideouts in the state in the past.”
The governor assured the community that a thorough investigation would be conducted to uncover the cause of the mistake and prevent future occurrences. He also prayed for Allah’s forgiveness for the deceased and strength for their families.
In addition, the Secretary to the State Government, Muhammad Bello Sifawa, announced a donation of N20 million and 100 bags of assorted food items to the families of the victims.
He also assured the public that the government would cover the medical bills of those injured in the airstrike.
This tragic incident underscores the complexities of military operations in conflict-affected areas and the need for continued efforts to safeguard civilian lives.
