An airstrike in Gidan Bisa and Runtuwa communities of Sokoto State has claimed the lives of 10 civilians, sparking conflicting narratives between local authorities and the military.
The incident occurred around 6 a.m. on Wednesday in Silame Local Government Area, where military jets were reportedly pursuing suspected bandits.
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Hon. Abubakar Gitta Rana, the council chairman, described the airstrike as an “erroneous” attack on innocent villagers, adding that livestock were also killed in the process.
However, the Joint Task Force (JTF) North West, Operation Fasan Yamma, defended the operation. In a statement, Lt. Col. Abdullahi Abubakar asserted that the airstrike targeted Lakurawa terrorists and denied striking civilian structures. He warned against “misinformation spread by terrorist groups and their collaborators.”
Governor Ahmed Aliyu, alongside Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko and Labour Minister Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, visited the affected communities to condole with the victims’ families.
During the visit, Aliyu joined in the funeral prayers for the deceased and expressed his sorrow over the incident. “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,” he said.
To support the bereaved families, the state government announced a donation of N20 million and 100 bags of foodstuffs. It also pledged to cover the medical expenses of those injured in the attack.
