Sokoto airstrikes: How my parents, four siblings were burnt to death – Survivor

• The despondent and grief-stricken woman, who spoke with newsmen in confidence, narrated the nerve-wracking and harrowing experience of how his family perish in the air strikes.

One of the survivors of the airstrikes in Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State has shared the horrific details of how the aerial bombardment  claimed the lives of his family members.

The despondent and grief-stricken woman recounted the nerve-wracking and harrowing experience of how his family perish in the air strikes during an interview with BBC Hausa.

The forlorn survivor, who spoke in confidence, disclosed that her father, mother, and four younger siblings were burnt to death in the airstrike.

“I saw them burning – my mother, my father, and my three younger brothers,” she said in tears.

Within Nigeria had reported how fighter jet targeting terrorists bombed Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa communities in Silame Local Government Area on Wednesday, killing at least ten villagers.

Many people were also injured in the tragic incident.

One resident, Usman Manuga, who narrated the tragic event, said “After the Fajr (early morning) prayer, we noticed planes flying overhead. Moments later, bombs were dropped, and everything went up in flames.”

The Joint Task Force North West Operation Fansan Yamma had denied Killing innocent people during the operation, insisting that those hit were criminal elements.

In a statement by Lt. Col Abdullahi Abubakar, spokesman for the Joint Task Force, the Task Force said the air strikes in Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa communities hit associates of the Lakurawa terrorist group

Meanwhile, the Coordinator, Joint Media Coordination Centre of the Operation, Lt-Col. Abubakar Abdullahi, explained that military operations were conducted based on thorough intelligence and reconnaissance missions.

However, the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, has promised to launch a thorough investigation into airstrikes on the two villages.

Reacting, the NAF spokesperson, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, insisted the airstrikes were carried out based on credible intelligence from multiple sources and confirmatory aerial surveillance.

He, however, assured that reports of civilian casualties would be thoroughly investigated.

“The airstrikes were conducted based on credible intelligence from multiple sources, along with confirmatory aerial surveillance.

“Nevertheless, reports of possible harm to civilians will be thoroughly investigated and we will update you appropriately,” he said.