Olayiwola Matthew
Days after military airstrikes killed at least 10 people in Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa communities in the Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Christmas Day, some residents of the agrarian community have rejected claims by the military that those hit were terrorists.
Reports indicated that the fighter jet was targeting Lakurawa terrorists in the areas, but in the process dropped explosives that killed residents, and livestock, and burnt several food silos and houses.
Although the Nigerian Air Force promised to launch a thorough investigation into the incident, the NAF spokesperson, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, defended the airstrikes, stating that they were carried out based on credible intelligence from multiple sources and after confirmatory aerial surveillance.
His claim was corroborated by the Coordinator of the Joint Media Coordination Centre of the Operation, Lieutenant-Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi, who insisted that the military operation was based on thorough reconnaissance missions.
When we visited the LG headquarters on Friday, the mood was tense, and residents wore long faces.
Many people from different communities gathered at the residence of the Local Government Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammad, to commiserate with him about the incident.
Muhammad insisted that those killed were farmers with no links to terrorists or the alleged Lakurawa sect, as claimed by the military.
The chairman acknowledged the military’s efforts in the community but stressed that the attack could not be overlooked.
It was gathered that the distance between Silame town and the affected communities is about 20 kilometres, which takes approximately five hours when travelling in a small car.
Muhammad said, “It is unfortunate that this is happening. We are deeply saddened by this incident, and we want justice for the victims.
“Look at how they were killed, how the village was razed, and how their food stores were destroyed. It is disheartening. They have really suffered, and it is very unfortunate that such a thing is happening at this time, right after the harvest.
“The community is burnt down, but what can we do? The deed has been done, and it’s very unfortunate.”
A resident of the community, Faruk Abubakar, who witnessed the attack, said it occurred early in the morning when some residents returned home after praying at the mosque.
He said, “Some of us were sitting where we usually drank early morning pap brought by a woman when we suddenly saw the aircraft flying low and coming towards us. We thought it was just passing through until it lowered further. We started running and heard a loud sound, followed by fire spreading fast.
“Some people were still sleeping in their huts when the bomb landed. Many people were feared dead immediately, while others sustained various degrees of injuries.”
Another resident, Alhaji Audu Abubakar, said the incident came to them as a rude shock.
He said, “It was a black Wednesday for our people here. We woke up to the worst calamity we’ve ever faced.
“It felt like a dream when it happened. I lost my friend in the blast. We were together on Tuesday night, but unfortunately, I woke up on Wednesday only to realise he had died in such a terrible way.
“We need justice for the people who died. We are not criminals and have never harboured any criminals in our midst. The allegations against us are false, and we want this matter thoroughly investigated.”
Another villager, Abubakar Silame, condemned the airstrike, stressing that the affected community had never been involved in any security issues.
He said, “The attack came to us unexpectedly. It happened early in the morning when some of us were still sleeping.
©Punch