By: Bayero Ade
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called for immediate compensation for victims of a reported military air strike on Silame Community, Sokoto State, which allegedly resulted in the deaths of ten people on Wednesday, December 25, 2024.
In a statement issued on Monday, December 30, ACF National Publicity Secretary, Tukur Muhammad-Baba, condemned the incident, labeling it “one mistake too many.” The military, however, denied responsibility, claiming the fatalities were caused by a secondary explosion and not a direct strike.
Expressing deep concern, Muhammad-Baba noted that the Silame tragedy is reminiscent of the Tudun Biri incident in Kaduna State, where a military operation a year ago resulted in civilian casualties. “The bland and dismissive response by a military spokesperson, insisting the operation was a planned target, is both insensitive and unacceptable,” he said.
He criticized the military for initially denying responsibility for the Tudun Biri attack, only to later admit it was an error after internal investigations. “It remains unclear if anyone was held accountable for that tragedy,” Muhammad-Baba added.
The ACF is urging the relevant authorities to launch a thorough investigation into the Silame incident, ensure accountability, and provide fair compensation to the affected victims. The forum stressed the need for decisive action to restore public confidence and prevent future occurrences.
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