KANO, Nigeria, Dec 28,(V7N) — Airstrikes by the Nigerian military targeting suspected jihadist positions in Sokoto state have tragically resulted in the deaths of 10 civilians and injuries to six others, local officials reported on Thursday.

The strikes, aimed at the Lakurawa jihadist group in the Surame forest, mistakenly hit the villages of Gidan Bisa and Runtawa, causing widespread devastation, including destroyed homes, livestock, and grain silos.

"Two military jets carried out the attacks on the two villages during an operation against Lakurawa terrorists in nearby Surame forest around 7:00 am," said Abubakar Muhammad, the Silame district administrator.

He confirmed the death toll at 10, with six people injured, and attended the victims’ funerals. "Many homes, livestock, and grain silos were destroyed in the airstrikes," he added.

Images from the scene shared by Sokoto state governor Ahmad Aliyu depicted charred remains of livestock, scorched mud houses, and bodies wrapped in cloth and plastic mats.

Governor Ahmad Aliyu attributed the tragic incident to an "accidental misfire from the Nigerian army" and called for a thorough investigation. "This avoidable loss of life underscores the need for greater precision in military operations," Aliyu said.

President Bola Tinubu’s aide, Dada Olusegun, initially dismissed reports of civilian casualties as fake news but later retracted his statement, acknowledging the fatalities. "I deeply regret any misunderstanding my initial report may have caused," Olusegun wrote on social media platform X.

The Nigerian military, while expressing regret, defended the operation, claiming the airstrikes were based on "thorough intelligence and reconnaissance."

"The targets struck... have been positively identified as associated with the Lakurawa group, reinforcing the justification for the military action taken," Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi stated.

However, the incident highlights ongoing concerns about civilian safety in military operations.

The Nigerian military has faced criticism over previous incidents of accidental civilian bombings. In December 2023, at least 85 people, including women and children, were killed in Kaduna state when a religious gathering was mistakenly targeted as a bandit stronghold.

The Sokoto tragedy adds to the growing calls for improved precision and accountability in counterterrorism operations in Nigeria, where the overlap of civilian populations and armed groups remains a deadly challenge.

The investigation into the Sokoto airstrikes will test the Nigerian military’s commitment to safeguarding civilian lives while combating jihadists and criminal gangs in the country’s restive regions.

END/WD/RH/