The Sokoto State government has donated N20 million to support the families affected by a tragic accidental bombing in civilian areas of Sokoto State. This incident occurred during military airstrikes aimed at a group of terrorists on Christmas Day.

Prominent politicians, including State Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, visited Silame local government area to pay their respects at the funerals of the victims. Governor Aliyu, accompanied by notable figures such as Senator Aliyu Wamakko and Minister Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, made the difficult journey to join the community in mourning and offering their condolences.

Governor Aliyu expressed his sadness over the incident, calling it a tragic mistake. He explained that the military was trying to target armed groups that threaten the area but mistakenly struck innocent people instead. He assured the community that a thorough investigation would be launched to find out what went wrong and to prevent such mistakes in the future. He also offered prayers for the deceased and their families.

In addition to the financial support, the government announced a donation of 100 bags of food to help the affected families and pledged to pay for the medical expenses of those who were injured.

The chairman of Silame local government, Abubakar Gitta Rana, explained that the bombing happened around 6 am when two military jets mistakenly dropped bombs on the village, resulting in the deaths of ten villagers and many livestock.

The Joint Task Force North-West, responsible for the military operations, denied that the airstrikes were aimed at civilian homes. Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi stated that the targets were linked to the terrorist group, which justified the military’s actions.

Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal expressed his shock and condemned the airstrikes, which resulted in many deaths and injuries. In a statement, he sent his heartfelt sympathies to the families who lost loved ones and to those who were hurt. He stressed that the victims were innocent people, not involved in any criminal activities, and called for a thorough and fair investigation to ensure justice for them and their families.