By Uzair Adam
An early morning airstrike on Wednesday in Gidan Bisa and Runtuwa communities of Sokoto State has left 10 civilians dead, with conflicting narratives emerging from local authorities and the military.
The incident, which occurred around 6 a.m., involved military jets targeting bandits in the Silame Local Government Area.
However, the bombs reportedly hit civilian areas, killing livestock and injuring residents.
Hon. Abubakar Gitta Rana, chairman of the local council, described the strike as a tragic mistake, accusing the military of attacking innocent villagers.
“This was an erroneous assault on our people, and it has brought immense grief to the affected families,” he said.
In a sharp contrast, the Joint Task Force (JTF) North West, under Operation Fasan Yamma, maintained that the operation specifically targeted Lakurawa terrorists and did not harm civilians.
A statement by Lt. Col. Abdullahi Abubakar defended the airstrike, warning against misinformation propagated by terrorist collaborators.
Governor Ahmed Aliyu, alongside prominent figures including Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko and Labour Minister Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, visited the affected areas to console the bereaved families.
He also participated in the funeral prayers of the deceased, labeling the incident a regrettable error.
“The jets were on a mission to eliminate criminal groups but mistakenly bombed innocent civilians. This is deeply unfortunate, and a thorough investigation will ensure such errors do not occur again,” Governor Aliyu assured.
The Sokoto State Government announced a N20 million relief package and 100 bags of foodstuffs for the affected families.
Additionally, medical expenses for the injured will be covered.
The incident has reignited debates over the precision of military operations in counterterrorism and the need for greater accountability.