Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed strong condemnation of the accidental airstrike carried out by the Nigerian Military on December 25, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of 10 civilians and injuries to six others in the villages of Rumtuwa and Gidan Sama, Silame Local Government Area, Sokoto State.
The affected villages, located near the Surame Desert—a known hideout for the emerging Lakurawa terror group—also witnessed the loss of approximately 100 animals, including camels, cows, and donkeys.
Reacting to the incident on social media platform X, Atiku, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), described the attack as “an outrage that must be condemned in the strongest terms.” He highlighted concerns over recurring civilian casualties in military operations, referencing a December 3 airstrike in Tudun Biri, near Kaduna, which reportedly killed dozens during a religious gathering.
Atiku emphasized the need for precision and credible intelligence in counterterrorism efforts, cautioning against the indiscriminate loss of innocent lives. “The indiscriminate killing of innocent citizens… can never be justified,” he stated.
Urging the government to end what he called a “tragic cycle of death,” Atiku appealed for lessons to be drawn from past errors to prevent further tragedies. He extended his heartfelt condolences to the affected families and the people of Sokoto State, offering prayers for the departed.
In his words:
“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 learned 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 neighbors—can never be justified. It is not only a failure but a gross violation of humanity itself.
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 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. Amin.”
Atiku’s statement has sparked discussions on the need for accountability and reform in Nigeria’s military operations to avoid further civilian casualties.
