The Federal Government has assured that a comprehensive investigation will be carried out following Wednesday’s tragic bombing incident in Gidan Bisa and Runtuwa villages of Silame Local Government Area, Sokoto State, which resulted in the death of 10 civilians. This statement came as the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) clarified that the fatalities were not caused by direct military airstrikes, but rather by a secondary explosion.
During a condolence visit to Sokoto Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, expressed the Federal Government’s deep concern over the incident and assured that justice would prevail. He explained that the military sometimes strikes incorrect locations due to faulty intelligence during operations. However, he reassured that the area targeted by the airstrike was under the control of the notorious Lakurawa bandits.
Matawalle also emphasized the government’s commitment to securing the nation, noting that President Bola Tinubu had expressed his concern over the bombing. The minister lauded Governor Aliyu for his proactive efforts in tackling banditry in Sokoto, citing his request for a military base in the state as a demonstration of his dedication to security.
As a gesture of support, Matawalle personally donated N10 million to the families of the victims and those injured in the bombing.
Governor Aliyu, while thanking President Tinubu for his concern, called for improvements in military intelligence and surveillance to prevent future errors. He described the bombing as a tragic event but prayed for the safety of the state’s residents.
Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) confirmed that the airstrikes were aimed at the Lakurawa terrorist group and their logistics base. However, the secondary explosion that followed the strike caused the civilian deaths. The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) also pledged to investigate the incident thoroughly to avoid similar occurrences in the future.
The military reiterated that all operations are conducted after extensive intelligence and reconnaissance to minimize civilian casualties. The airstrikes were carried out on December 25 after a period of surveillance to confirm the presence of terrorists in the area.
The NAF has committed to updating the public as more details emerge from the investigation.
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