In a tragic incident early Wednesday, a fighter jet mistakenly bombed three communities in Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State, killing at least 10 villagers and injuring several others. The jet, targeting Lakurawa jihadists hiding in the Surame Forest, dropped bombs on innocent civilians in Gidan Bisa, Gitta Rana, and Runtuwa villages.
Eyewitness Yahaya Mohammed Silame, a former information officer of the area, revealed that Gitta Rana, one of the affected villages, is home to the chairman of Silame Local Government, Abubakar Mohammed Daftarana.
“The villagers were peacefully sitting outside their homes when the jet roared overhead and dropped bombs, causing devastation,” Daftarana stated. His council is currently assessing the full scale of the damage.
Survivors with shrapnel wounds are receiving treatment in local hospitals, while residents claim the death toll may be higher than reported. Attempts to confirm details from the Sokoto State Police Command have been unsuccessful.
Governor Ahmed, alongside state executive council members and APC leaders, visited the communities to console grieving families. He called on military pilots to exercise professionalism and precision to prevent further loss of innocent lives during operations targeting criminal elements.
Surame Forest, the jet’s intended target, is a known hideout for the jihadist group Lakurawa, who have been terrorizing the region. The incident has sparked calls for increased accountability and enhanced measures to safeguard civilian lives during counterterrorism efforts.
