An airstrike in two Sokoto communities, Gidan Bisa and Runtuwa, has left 10 civilians dead, sparking conflicting accounts between local authorities and the military.

The incident, which occurred at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, saw bombs dropped by military jets reportedly pursuing bandits in Silame Local Government Area. 

The council chairman, Hon. Abubakar Gitta Rana, disclosed that the airstrike also killed livestock, describing it as an “erroneous” attack on innocent villagers.

In contrast, the Joint Task Force (JTF) North West, Operation Fasan Yamma, insisted the operation targeted Lakurawa terrorists and denied hitting civilian structures. A statement by Lt. Col. Abdullahi Abubakar emphasized that the airstrike was justified, cautioning against misinformation spread by terrorist groups and collaborators.

Governor Ahmed Aliyu, accompanied by state APC leader Sen. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko and Labour Minister Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, visited the affected communities to condole with victims’ families.

He participated in funeral prayers for the deceased and described the incident as a tragic mistake.

“The jets were on a mission to eliminate criminal groups but mistakenly bombed innocent civilians. This is unfortunate, and a thorough investigation will be conducted to prevent future occurrences,” Aliyu stated.

The state government announced a donation of ₦20 million and 100 bags of foodstuffs to assist the bereaved families. It also pledged to cover the medical expenses of those injured in the airstrike.

The tragedy highlights the challenges of precision in military operations and raises questions about accountability in counterterrorism efforts.

[Vanguard]