Accidental bombing: Fighter jet mistakenly targets two communities in Sokoto State, fatalities recorded

A tragic incident occurred in Sokoto State’s Silame Local Government Area on Wednesday morning, as a fighter jet mistakenly bombed two communities.

The intended target was a group of jihadists in the Surame forest, specifically in the Lakurawa hideouts..

However, the jet’s bombs instead struck gatherings of innocent villagers in Gidan Bisa, Gitta Rana, and Runtuwa villages, all located within Silame Ward.

Notably, Gitta Rana is the hometown of the current chairman of Silame Local Government Area, as confirmed by Yahaya Mohammed Silame, a local resident and former information officer for the council.

According to him, about 10 villagers were reportedly killed, although many believe the death toll is much higher.

Several victims who suffered varying degrees of injuries from the airstrike are receiving treatment in hospital for shrapnel wounds.

Commenting on the incident, the Council Chairman, Mr. Abubakar Mohammed Daftarana, said the scale of damage and fatalities caused by the aerial bombardment was being assessed.

“The communities were sitting peacefully outside their homes taking a break when they heard the thundering sounds of bombs dropped by the jet as it passed overhead,” he said.

Governor Ahmad Aliyu, accompanied by members of the State Executive Council, has visited the communities to condoled with the families of the victims of the airstrike.

He urged pilots engaged in combating criminal elements to maintain professionalism and ensure accuracy in their operations to avoid hitting wrong targets and harming innocent civilians.