Military airstrike kills 10 villagers, livestock in Sokoto

In the early hours of Wednesday, a military airstrike while pursuing bandits in Gidan Bisa village of Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State killed at least ten persons and several animals. 

Ten civilians and numerous cattle were killed when two military fighter jets accidentally dropped bombs on the village at around six in the morning, according to LGA Chairman Abubakar Gitta Rana. 

Despite the challenging topography of the hamlet, Governor Ahmed Aliyu joined other locals for the burial prayers for the deceased together with Sen. Aliyu Magarakarda Wamakko, the state's APC leader, and Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, the minister of labour and employment.

Governor Aliyu expressed his condolences to the people and said the occurrence was regrettable and an act that Allah Ta'ala had predetermined.

“The military jets were on their mission to eliminate armed criminal groups terrorizing the state, and mistakenly bombed innocent people of this community.

“We consider this as a mistake because the same military had on several occasions successfully raided so many criminal hideouts in the state,” he added.

The governor added that in order to prevent a repeat of the preventable error, a comprehensive inquiry would be carried out to determine what caused it. 

Additionally, Governor Aliyu asked Allah Ta'ala to pardon the dead and grant their families the fortitude to cope with their loss. 

Muhammad Bello Sifawa, the Secretary to the State Government, had earlier declared that the relatives of the deceased will receive N20 million and 100 bags of various food items. 

He went on to say that the state government would also pay the hospital bills of anybody who were injured during the bombardment.

Source