Hours after the tragic airstrike in Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State, a survivor has recounted the harrowing experience of watching her family perish in the ensuing inferno.
In an interview with BBC Hausa, the distraught woman, who requested anonymity, described how her father, mother, and four younger siblings were burnt to death during the airstrike.
Through tears, she said, “I saw them burning—my mother, my father, and my three younger brothers.”
The airstrike, allegedly carried out by a Nigerian military warplane, occurred on Tuesday morning, targeting suspected insurgents in the area. However, the attack reportedly claimed the lives of 10 civilians, injured six others, and killed around 100 animals, including camels, cattle, sheep, and donkeys.
One resident, Usman Manuga, narrated: “After the Fajr (early morning) prayer, we noticed planes flying overhead. Moments later, bombs were dropped, and everything went up in flames.”
At the funeral for the victims on Wednesday evening, Governor Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto State described the incident as an unfortunate mistake.
“This situation was destined to happen. The officials acted with the intention of protecting this community. However, we will ensure a thorough investigation is conducted to prevent such incidents in the future,” he said.
The governor announced the provision of 100 bags of food supplies and ₦20 million in relief funds to support the affected families.
Abubakar Muhammad, Chairman of the Silame Local Government, confirmed the incident, stating that two warplanes were involved in the attack, which struck the villages of Gidan Bisa and Runtuwa.
“The attacks were relentless, and it took the intervention of the state government to halt them. Both the Air Force and ground forces participated in the operation,” he said.
The affected villages are located near the Surame desert, believed to be a stronghold for Lakurawa insurgents.
This tragedy marks the ninth accidental military airstrike on civilians in Nigeria in recent years. Previous incidents include:
December 3, 2023: A drone strike killed 85 worshippers celebrating Maulud in Tudun Biri, Kaduna State.
September 2021: An airstrike in Yunusari, Yobe State, resulted in 10 civilian deaths.
January 2017: A military strike on a refugee camp in Rann, Borno State, claimed numerous civilian lives.
Call for Accountability
Governor Aliyu assured the community that efforts are underway to investigate the incident thoroughly and prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The survivor and other affected residents continue to grapple with their unimaginable loss, hoping that measures will be taken to ensure civilians are protected during military operations.
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