Tragic Airstrike: 10 Dead as Nigerian Military Jet Targeting Bandits Hits Civilians
At least 10 people were killed and many others injured when a Nigerian military fighter jet, which was targeting bandits, accidentally bombed civilians in two villages in the northwestern state of Sokoto on Wednesday. The state governor, Ahmed Aliyu, confirmed the incident.
Aliyu explained that the military jets were on a mission to eliminate criminal armed groups causing chaos in the region but mistakenly bombed innocent people in the affected villages.
He assured that the state would work with other relevant authorities to look into the military operation that led to the deaths in the villages of Gidan Sama and Rintuwa, located in the Surame local government area.
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Later on Wednesday, the military confirmed it had attacked targets in the areas around Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa, which were believed to be linked to the Lakurawa group. However, they did not give specific details about any civilians caught in the attack.
The military had issued a warning the previous month about a new insurgent group, the Lakurawas, which was reportedly crossing into the northwest from neighboring Niger and Mali.
The tragic bombing took place around 0500 GMT when two military jets dropped bombs on the villages, as reported by the local government chairman.
The northwest of Nigeria is experiencing increasing insecurity, with violent activities from bandits and armed groups.
Meanwhile, the northeast of the country continues to face a long-running Islamist insurgency, and the southeast is troubled by gang and separatist violence.
Tragic Airstrike: 10 Dead as Nigerian Military Jet Targeting Bandits Hits Civilians
