A harrowing tale has emerged from the Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State, where a military airstrike tragically claimed civilian lives. A resident, who chose to remain anonymous, recounted the devastating moment she watched her family perish in the attack.
“I saw them burning—my mother, my father, and my three younger brothers,” the grieving woman told BBC Hausa, her voice trembling with anguish.
The tragedy unfolded early Wednesday morning when a Nigerian Air Force warplane conducted an airstrike targeting suspected insurgents in the area. However, the operation went awry, resulting in civilian casualties and widespread devastation.
Another resident, Usman Manuga, provided further details of the incident. “After the Fajr (early morning) prayer, we noticed planes flying overhead. Moments later, bombs were dropped, and everything went up in flames,” he recounted, describing the chaos that ensued.
The attack claimed the lives of at least 10 civilians, injured six others, and killed around 100 animals, including camels, cattle, sheep, and donkeys.
Governor Visits Grieving Communities
Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu responded to the tragedy by visiting the affected communities to console residents and assess the damage. Despite the challenging terrain, the governor joined the funeral prayers for the deceased and pledged ₦20 million to support the victims’ families.
Accompanied by Senator Aliyu Wamakko, a prominent leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, Governor Aliyu expressed deep sorrow over the incident.
“The incident is regrettable. While the military’s mission was to target armed groups terrorizing our state, this unfortunate mistake has resulted in the loss of innocent lives,” the governor said.
Community and National Reactions
The airstrike has sparked outrage and grief among residents and observers, with many questioning the precision of the military’s operations. Local leaders have called for an urgent investigation into the incident to prevent future occurrences.
“This is not the first time innocent civilians have been caught in the crossfire. We need accountability and better intelligence to ensure that such tragedies do not happen again,” a community elder remarked during the governor’s visit.
Meanwhile, human rights groups and civil society organizations have urged the federal government to provide immediate support to the victims’ families and address the growing concerns over military operations in civilian areas.
A Tragic Pattern
The incident in Silame adds to a troubling pattern of collateral damage in the fight against insurgency across Nigeria. While the military has achieved notable successes in combating armed groups, errors like this undermine public confidence in its operations and deepen the trauma faced by affected communities.
Efforts are ongoing to provide relief to the survivors, but the pain of those who lost loved ones remains raw. For the woman who watched her family burn to death, the wounds may never heal.
