The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has formally presented compensation to victims and families impacted by an accidental military airstrike in Sokoto State that occurred nearly one year ago. The handover ceremony, which included military officials, local leaders, and a large community gathering, marks a significant step in addressing the tragic incident that claimed civilian lives.
Ceremony and Commitment After a Year-Long Wait
On Sunday, the Air Force announced the completion of the compensation process through a post on its official X account. The event was held under tents with a substantial assembly of community members present. Key figures at the ceremony included the Sokoto State Governor, Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto. The NAF used the occasion to reaffirm its dedication to protecting civilians while continuing its fight against terrorists and bandits across Nigeria.
The distribution of cash and relief materials comes almost a full year after the devastating event on 25 December 2024. During that operation, which was aimed at bandits, a military warplane mistakenly struck the Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa communities in the Silame Local Government Area. The erroneous strike resulted in the deaths of at least 10 innocent citizens and left several others wounded.
A Pattern of Errors and Strong Condemnation
This incident is not isolated. Human Rights Watch has documented that no fewer than three similar erroneous airstrikes happened between late 2024 and early 2025 across Sokoto, Zamfara, and Borno States. These repeated events have raised serious and ongoing concerns about the accuracy of targeting in military operations.
The Sokoto tragedy provoked strong reactions last year. Former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, condemned the strike in the strongest terms. He described the killing of innocent citizens as a gross violation of humanity and a profound failure.
In his statement, Atiku drew a painful parallel to the Tudun Biri airstrike of 3 December 2023 in Kaduna, which killed dozens at a religious gathering. He questioned how many more lives must be lost before concrete lessons are learned and applied. While he affirmed that targeting terrorists is a legitimate goal, he insisted such operations must be executed with unmatched precision and based on irrefutable intelligence to avoid civilian harm.
Calls for Change and the Path Forward
The former Vice President warned that when communities meant to be partners in the fight against terrorism become targets, it sows seeds of division and anger. He emphasized that the indiscriminate loss of life can never be justified and called for an end to what he termed a tragic cycle of death.
The Sokoto State Government had initiated a probe into the incident shortly after it occurred. The compensation delivered by the NAF represents a direct response to the findings and the ongoing plea for accountability. However, it also underscores a critical and persistent challenge in Nigeria's security operations: balancing effective counter-insurgency with the paramount need to safeguard civilian lives.
The handover in Sokoto is a necessary act of redress, but it also serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of miscalculation. Moving forward, the focus remains on ensuring that such painful errors are not repeated, that every life is valued, and that military strategies prioritize precision to prevent further mourning in communities across the nation.
