An airstrike in the Sokoto communities of Gidan Bisa and Runtuwa on Wednesday morning has led to the deaths of 10 civilians, sparking differing accounts between local officials and the military.
The attack, which occurred at around 6 a.m., involved bombs dropped by military jets reportedly targeting bandits in the Silame Local Government Area.
According to Hon. Abubakar Gitta Rana, Chairman of the Local Government, the airstrike also resulted in the death of livestock and was described as an “erroneous” assault on innocent civilians.
However, the Joint Task Force (JTF) North West, operating under the banner of Operation Fasan Yamma, defended the strike, asserting that it had targeted the Lakurawa terrorist group.
Lt. Col. Abdullahi Abubakar, a spokesman for the JTF, emphasized that the operation was legitimate and warned against misinformation being spread by terrorist groups and their supporters.
In the wake of the tragedy, Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu, alongside prominent figures such as Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko and Labour Minister Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, visited the affected communities to offer condolences to the families of the victims.
The governor participated in funeral prayers for the deceased and expressed sorrow over the incident, describing it as a “tragic mistake.”
“The jets were on a mission to target criminal elements but unfortunately bombed innocent civilians. This is a tragic incident, and we will ensure a thorough investigation to prevent such mistakes in the future,” Governor Aliyu stated.
To support the bereaved families, the state government announced a donation of ₦20 million and 100 bags of foodstuffs.
Additionally, they pledged to cover medical expenses for those injured in the airstrike.
