Christmas Day brought tragedy to Sokoto state, Nigeria, as military airstrikes intended for the Lakurawa insurgent group accidentally turned deadly for civilians. On December 25, 2023, strikes targeting suspected insurgent hideouts led to the deaths of at least 10 villagers and injuries to six others. The attacks, described by local officials as misguided attempts to dismantle the Lakurawa group, struck the villages of Gidan Bisa and Gidan Runtawa instead of their intended targets.
Local administrator Abubakar Muhammad recounted the horror, stating, "We lost 10 people in the incident... Many homes, livestock, and grain silos were destroyed in the airstrikes." He attended the funeral of the victims, whose lives were snuffed out by what was meant to be a tactical military response against insurgents.
At 7:00 AM, military jets carried out the attacks during operations aimed at Lakurawa positions. Despite the precision needed to target militant activities, errors crept in, devastating innocent lives. The Sokoto state governor, Ahmad Aliyu, characterized the deaths as the result of an "accidental misfire from the Nigerian army," calling for a comprehensive investigation to understand and rectify what led to such irreversible loss of life.
Pictures shared by Aliyu illustrated the grim aftermath: bodies wrapped for burial, charred remains of livestock, and homes reduced to smoldering wrecks. Aides to President Bola Tinubu had previously misinformed the public, claiming the civilian deaths were exaggerated. Dada Olusegun later revised this assertion, emphasizing the complications of reporting on military operations entangled with civilian populations.
The military, defending the airstrike, insisted the targets had been appropriately identified as linked to the Lakurawa group. Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi stated, "The targets struck... have been positively identified as associated with the Lakurawa group, reinforcing the justification for the military action taken." He argued all operations rely on detailed intelligence and reconnaissance to safeguard civilian lives.
Tragically, airstrikes causing civilian casualties have become all too commonplace within Nigeria's fight against various insurgent groups. Just months prior, reckless bombing resulted in the death of at least 85 people at what was presumed to be a gathering of militants but turned out to be civilians attending prayers.
Reports from security firms estimate nearly 400 civilian casualties from such military errors since 2017, highlighting the growing concern over the operational conduct of the Nigerian army. The latest Sokoto incident fuels allegations of careless tactics, amplifying distrust between military forces and the communities they aim to protect.
Human rights organization Amnesty International, led by Isa Sanusi, condemned the airstrikes, calling for thorough investigations. Sanusi stated, "Launching air raids is not a legitimate law enforcement method by any standard. Such reckless use of deadly force is unlawful and outrageous..." He detailed the heart-wrenching reality of families wiped out, with cautionary words on how military tactics, which should be precise and human-focused, instead lead to devastating inflictions upon the innocent.
Adding to the complexity, the Lakurawa group, initially gaining local trust for their anti-robbery actions, has now shifted their agenda dramatically to impose strict interpretations of Islamic law, complicity intertwined with the security situation across borders with neighboring countries like Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, now fraught with political instability.
Edward Buba, the military spokesperson, updated the public on the airstrike’s repercussions, claiming the explosions from the intended target led to secondary detonations. He mentioned, "Secondary explosions resulted from the strike, causing hoarded munitions to explode..." This explanation, though intended to clarify the chain of events, resonates with the long-felt desperation of those who fear the military's capacity to delineate insurgents from innocent civilians.
Overwhelmed by past obligations and future commitments, Nigeria’s military continues grappling with the dual challenge of ensuring national security without inflaming local discontent or sorrow. With insights gathered from these tragic narratives, the path forward calls for enhanced operational oversight, community engagement, and utmost care to honor the sanctity of civilian life, particularly amid precarious circumstances.
Despite these dire incidents, Aliyu's administration and military defense officials have signaled their readiness to deeply reflect upon their operational choices. Nevertheless, the urgency remains—will accountability follow, and can strategies be effectively rewritten to safeguard vulnerable populations without impeding on warfare against insurgent threats?
