Nigeria’s military authorities have cleared the air on allegations that its recent operations in Northwest of Nigeria bombed two communities in Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State, leaving many villagers dead while several others injured.
Spokesman for Operation Fansan Yamma, Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi, did not confirm if military jets struck the communities, he however admitted that there is a significant risk that Lakurawa and other terrorist groups “may attempt to undermine military successes through media disinformation, necessitating caution concerning unverified claims, especially in the ongoing fight against terrorism and banditry.”
“The Joint Task Force North West Operation Fansan Yamma has addressed recent reports concerning a military fighter jet allegedly bombing civilian structures in the Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State,” he said.
“These reports have raised concerns; however, it is crucial to clarify that all military operations are conducted based on thorough intelligence and reconnaissance missions. This rigorous process is particularly important when targeting groups like the Lakurawa terrorist organisation, as it aims to ensure precision and protect civilian lives.
“Given the serious nature of these operations, the public is urged to rely on confirmed information to prevent misinformation and unnecessary panic.
“Importantly, the targets struck in the vicinity of Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa have been positively identified as associated with the Lakurawa group, reinforcing the justification for the military action taken.”
A fighter jet targeting Lakurawa terrorist group was reported to have erroneously bombed two communities in Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State, leaving many villagers dead while several others were injured.
The affected communities were Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa. According to locals, the incident occurred around 7am on Wednesday.
A resident of Silame, who gave his name as Malam Yahya, told Daily Trustthat the two villages were located close to Surame Forest identified as another hideout of Lakurawa and bandits.
Another source told Daily Trust that over 10 villagers were killed and several others sustained varying degrees of injury during the airstrike.
The chairman of Silame LGA, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammad Daftarana, however, confirmed the attack, saying they were still assessing the level of damage caused by the airstrike.
“The villagers were sitting peacefully when the bombs started dropping on the communities. They were innocent and peace-loving people who had no any criminal record.
“It was early for me to confirm the number of people either killed or injured because we are still assessing the development,” he said.
When Daily Trust contacted the Spokesman of the Sokoto State Police Command, ASP Ahmad Rufa’i declined comment on the matter, saying it was not the police operation.
