The Sokoto state government says no fewer than 10 civilians were killed when a military air strike targeted suspected terrorists in Gidan Bisa village, Silame LGA of the state.

Abubakar Bawa, press secretary to Ahmed Aliyu, governor of the state, wrote in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Bawa quoted Abubakar Rana, chairman of Silame LGA, as saying that the incident occurred around 6am on Christmas Day, when two military fighter jets “mistakenly” dropped bombs on the village.

Aliyu, who was accompanied by Aliyu Wamakko, leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, and Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, minister of labour and employment, attended the funeral prayers for the victims.

Consoling the villagers, the governor described the incident as “unfortunate.”

“The military jets were on their mission to eliminate criminal armed groups terrorising the state and mistakenly bombed innocent people of this community,” he said.

“We consider this a mistake because the same military had on several occasions successfully raided many criminal hideouts in the state.”

Aliyu prayed for Allah’s forgiveness for the deceased and strength for their families.

Muhammad Sifawa, secretary to the state government, announced a relief package of N20 million and 100 bags of assorted foodstuffs for the families of the deceased.

He also assured that the state government would cover the medical bills of the injured.

The military had denied reports of civilian casualties in the bombing.

Reports said air strikes conducted by the air component of Operation Hadarin Daji, targeting the Lakurawa terrorist group, had inadvertently killed civilians in the Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa communities.

However, Abubakar Abdullahi, joint media coordinator for the operation, said the strikes targeted locations confirmed to be linked to the insurgents.

“All military operations are based on thorough intelligence and reconnaissance missions to ensure precision and protect civilian lives,” Abdullahi said.

“The targets struck in the vicinity of Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa were positively identified as associated with the Lakurawa group, reinforcing the justification for the military action.”

Olusola Akinboyewa, spokesperson for the Nigerian Air Force, told TheCable that the missiles were launched following credible intelligence from multiple sources and confirmatory aerial surveillance.

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No fewer than 11 people were reportedly killed on Wednesday, December, when some suspected herdsmen invaded the Ityuluv, Tse Azege, and Innyiev ya communities in Mkomon district, the Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.

According to residents of the affected communities, the invaders were reported to have stormed the communities while residents were celebrating the Christmas season.

One of the residents, who identified himself as Terlumun, said, “The terrorist herders came this afternoon (Wednesday) when the people were celebrating Christmas and invaded our communities, killing and burning houses.”

When contacted on Thursday, the President-General of the Tiv socio-cultural group known as ‘Mdzough U Tiv Worldwide,’ Iorbee Ihagh, confirmed the attack (to The Punch) via a telephone conversation.

He said, “11 people were killed in the Christmas day attack on Mkomon district of Turan in Kwande LG. Some are still missing as I speak to you now.

“Our people were celebrating Christmas when the Fulani herdsmen invaded the communities and attacked the people.”

Ihagh said some council wards in the LG, particularly Moon council ward, had long been sacked by the herdsmen.

He called on Governor Hyacinth Alia and President Bola Tinubu to beef up security in the state.

Also, the governor’s Security Adviser on Internal Affairs and Security, Joseph Har, confirmed the attack but declined further comments.

He, however, referred our correspondent to the Director-General on Security, Gbamuam Jacob, for further information.

“It’s true. I was informed about the incident but I have forwarded the report to the Director-General on security. He’ll give you details,” Har said.

Efforts to get the DG were unsuccessful as his cellphone did not connect as of the time of filing this report.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, Catherine Anene, said she had yet to receive any reports about the incident.

“I’m yet to receive a report about that,” Anene said.