Sokoto airstrike killing innocent citizens devastating, outrageous – Atiku
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the airstrike that claimed the lives of civilians and left others injured in Sokoto State.
PUNCH Online reports that a Nigerian Air Force airstrike, intended to neutralise Lakurawa terrorists, mistakenly hit Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa communities in the Silame Local Government Area of the state, killing at least 10 villagers and leaving several others wounded.
Reacting to the incident in a post via his X handle on Thursday, Atiku described the airstrike as devastating, outrageous and condemnable.
The former Vice President stated that the indiscriminate killing of innocent citizens can never be justified, adding that it is a failure and a gross violation of humanity itself.
He wrote, “The devastating airstrike that claimed the lives of nearly a dozen innocent civilians and left many others wounded in the peaceful communities of Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa in Sokoto State is an outrage that must be condemned in the strongest terms.
“But this tragedy begs the question: What have we truly learnt from the heart-wrenching losses of the past? On December 3, 2023, tens of innocent lives were lost in a brutal airstrike on a religious gathering at Tudun Biri, near Kaduna. How many more lives must be lost before we take action?
“While targeting terrorists is a legitimate goal, these strikes must be carried out with unmatched precision and based on irrefutable intelligence. The indiscriminate killing of innocent citizens — our brothers, our sisters, our neighbours— can never be justified. It is not only a failure but a gross violation of humanity itself.”
Atiku, therefore, called on the Federal Government to stop the killings of innocent Nigerians and learn from the heart-wrenching losses of the past.
He added, “When those who are meant to be our partners in the fight against terrorism are instead treated as targets, we are sowing the seeds of further division and anger. We cannot expect them to see a difference between those who protect them and those who harm them when they are caught in the crossfire.
“We must stop this tragic cycle of death. The only way forward is to learn from the past, to make sure that every life is valued, and to ensure no more families have to mourn the loss of loved ones due to senseless violence. To the grieving families and the people of Sokoto, my heart goes out to you. May the souls of the departed rest in eternal peace.”
