In a tragic incident, several villagers have reportedly been killed and many others injured after a fighter jet targeting Lakurawa terrorists mistakenly bombed two communities in Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State, Nigeria.
The affected villages, Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa, are situated near the Surame Forest, known as a hideout for terrorists and bandits.
The incident, which occurred around 7 a.m. on Wednesday, left the communities in shock. According to a local source who spoke on condition of anonymity, “No fewer than 10 villagers were killed, and several others sustained varying degrees of injuries during the airstrikes.”
Alhaji Abubakar Muhammad, Chairman of Silame Local Government Area Council, confirmed the airstrikes but stated that his team is still assessing the extent of the damage. “The villagers were sitting peacefully when the bombs started dropping. They are innocent and peace-loving people with no criminal record,” he said.
Muhammad added, “It is too early to confirm the exact number of casualties as we are still assessing the development.”
The Sokoto State Police Command spokesperson, ASP Ahmad Rufa’i, declined to comment on the incident, stating that it was not a police operation. Efforts to contact the Nigeria Air Force spokesperson in the state were unsuccessful as their phone number was unreachable at the time of filing this report.
