The Federal Government has pledged to conduct a thorough investigation into the airstrike that claimed the lives of 10 people in Gidan Bisa and Runtuwa villages, located in the Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, gave this assurance during a condolence visit to Governor Ahmed Aliyu in Sokoto on Friday.
In a statement released on Saturday, the governor’s spokesman, Abubakar Bawa, quoted Matawalle as saying that justice would be served and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to safeguarding the lives of all Nigerians.
Matawalle expressed sorrow over the actions of terrorists who continue to disrupt the peace but assured that the Federal Government would deal with them decisively.
He also commended Governor Aliyu for his proactive efforts in addressing banditry and other criminal activities in the state, noting that Aliyu is the only governor who has requested a military base for enhanced security.
“We will continue to provide Sokoto State with all the necessary equipment and resources,” Matawalle stated.
He conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s condolences over the incident, emphasizing the President’s deep concern. Matawalle attributed the airstrike to faulty intelligence available to the military at the time but clarified that security reports indicated the area was a stronghold for the Lakurawa bandits.
Governor Aliyu, in response, urged the military to enhance its intelligence and surveillance operations to prevent future mistakes. He acknowledged the efforts of the military and other security agencies in maintaining security across the state and thanked President Tinubu for his concern and Matawalle for his support in combating banditry.
Aliyu described the incident as unfortunate but said it was an event that could happen in such operations. He prayed for Allah’s intervention to prevent a recurrence and assured that a comprehensive investigation would be carried out to uncover the facts surrounding the tragedy.
