A community in Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State was left grieving after a military airstrike, intended to target insurgents, resulted in the deaths of 10 civilians and injuries to six others.
Among the casualties were members of a single family, whose relative recounted the devastating events to BBC Hausa, describing how her parents and siblings perished in the ensuing fire.
Speaking with deep anguish, the survivor shared that funeral prayers were offered for the victims, including her father, mother, and four younger siblings.
The attack, which occurred early Wednesday morning after Fajr prayers, also claimed the lives of numerous livestock, including camels, cattle, and sheep.
Local resident Usman Manuga recounted witnessing the airstrike firsthand, stating, “After the prayers, we heard planes and then explosions. I saw it with my own eyes.”
Governor Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto State, who attended the funeral, described the incident as a mistake by the military, emphasizing it was an unintended consequence of efforts to combat insurgents in the region.
He pledged support for the affected families, providing relief materials and financial assistance. The governor also promised an investigation to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The tragedy highlights ongoing challenges with military operations in Nigeria, including past incidents of misdirected strikes that have resulted in civilian casualties.
This marks the ninth such attack in the country, underscoring the need for more precise operations to avoid harm to innocent lives.
