The Federal Government announced yesterday that it would conduct a comprehensive investigation into Wednesday’s accidental bombing, which resulted in the deaths of 10 people in Gidan Bisa and Runtuwa villages of Silame Local Government Area, Sokoto State. This assurance coincided with clarifications from the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), which stated that the fatalities were caused by a secondary explosion rather than direct military airstrikes.
During a condolence visit to Governor Ahmed Aliyu in Sokoto, the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, described the incident as deeply regrettable. He promised a thorough investigation to uncover the truth and ensure justice.
“Mr. President is worried by the unfortunate incident and he asked me to come and condole you over what happened,” the minister said.
Matawalle acknowledged that military airstrikes sometimes hit unintended targets due to incorrect information during operations. However, he noted that security reports indicated the area was dominated by the Lakurawa bandits.
He expressed concern over Nigeria’s ongoing challenges with terrorism but reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to improving security. The minister also commended Governor Aliyu for his proactive stance against banditry, highlighting that he was the only governor to voluntarily request a military base in his state. Mutawalle assured continued military support and pledged to provide necessary equipment for Sokoto State’s security.
As a gesture of support, the minister personally donated N10 million to assist the families of those killed and injured in the incident.
In response, Governor Aliyu urged the military to enhance its intelligence and surveillance capabilities to prevent future misdirected strikes. He praised the security forces for their efforts to ensure safety in Sokoto and expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his concern and support in combating banditry. He also described the tragedy as a fated occurrence, praying for divine intervention to prevent a recurrence.
The Defence Headquarters further explained that the airstrikes targeted the Lakurawa terrorist group and their logistics base. Unfortunately, a secondary explosion caused civilian casualties.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has also launched an investigation to prevent similar incidents. According to NAF spokesperson Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, military operations are based on meticulous intelligence and reconnaissance to minimize civilian harm. He assured the public that findings from the investigation would be shared transparently.
Maj-Gen. Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, provided additional details during a press conference in Abuja. He confirmed that the December 25 airstrike successfully hit the terrorists' logistics base, triggering secondary explosions that caused civilian casualties. He explained that extensive intelligence and surveillance preceded the operation to verify the presence of terrorists in the area.
The military remains committed to refining its processes to avoid unintended harm while continuing efforts to ensure national security.