The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Wednesday donated cash assistance and other relief materials as supports to victims of the 2024 accidental airstrike in Sokoto state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that military troops had, on Dec. 25, 2024, in a coordinated joint operation by Operation Fansan Yamma to destroy the Lakurawa terrorist group in their hideouts mistakenly resulted in the death of about 13 people.
The operation, targeted at the terrorists’ hideouts in Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa communities in Silame Local Government Area of the state, also saw several others injured.
Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, represented by the Chief of Civil Military Relations, Air Vice Marshal, Edward Gabkwet, presented the donation to Gov. Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto state and the Chairman of Silame LGA Alhaji Lawalli Gittarana.
Aneke described the incident as unfortunate and sympathised with the victims’ relatives and the state government, adding that a team had already visited the state earlier for the same mission besides a fact-finding team that investigated the incident.
He said NAF had taken responsibility of compensating livestocks and farmlands along with other incentives as a way of ameliorating the sufferings associated with the unforseen incident.
” The incident was not intentional. It was a mistake that happened during an operation targeting criminal elements in the area on a quite calculated plan,” he said.
The NAF chief promised further strategic activities to rid the area free of terrorists, bandits as well as kidnappers and enjoined the communities to support military actions to ensure hitch-free exercises.
He reaffirmed NAF’s commitment to maintaining high standards of civilian harm mitigation, stating that every operation was guided by strict rules of engagement to prevent harm to non-combatants.
He prayed for the repose of the souls of the victims and reaffirmed NAF’s resolve to deepen community engagement in all its operational areas across the country.
Aneke commended Aliyu for facilitating the engagement between NAF and the victims’ families, adding that the service would continue to work with the state government to sustain peace and security in the region.
In his address, Aliyu said the state government had earlier supported the victims with N20 million, medical care and logistics immediately after the incident.
Aliyu announced another donation of N35 million to the victims and deceased families, commending NAF’s concerns towards cushioning the effects of the incident on the citizens.
He described the gesture by NAF as a demonstration of empathy and responsibility, adding that the air strike, though regrettable, was a consequence of the efforts to counter criminalities which had bedevilled the areas.
NAN reports that prayers were offered by different scholars for the repose of the souls of the victims, national peace, progress and stability.
