Many villagers have been reportedly feared dead with several others injured as fighter jet targeting members of Lakurawa terrorists in their hideout, mistakingly bombed two communities in Silame local government area of Sokoto State.
The affected communities, according to a source in the community who said the incident occurred around 7am on Wednesday, were Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa villages.
The source who preferred anonymity noted that, “the two villages are located close to Surame Forest, which was identified as hideout of Lakurawa and bandits.
“No fewer than 10 villagers were killed with several others sustaining various degrees of injuries during the airstrikes.”
Also, confirming the attack, the chairman of Silame local government area council, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammad, said his team was still assessing the level of damage caused by the military airstrikes.
“The villagers were sitting peacefully when the bombs started dropping on the communities. They are innocent and peace loving people who had no any criminal record.
“It is too early to confirm the number of people either killed or injured because we are still assessing the development,” he said.
When contacted, the Spokesman of the Sokoto State Police Command, ASP Ahmad Rufa’i, declined comment on the development, saying it was not a Police operation.
Also, efforts to speak with spokesman of the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) in the State was not successful as his phone number was not reachable as at the time of filing this report.