Another dark chapter has been added to Nigeria’s struggle against terrorism – one not authored by terrorists, but by the army with a sworn mission to protect Nigerians. The tragic death, last week, of innocent villagers in Silame LGA, Sokoto State, from bombs dropped by a military fighter jet, is a glaring indictment of the military’s operational ineptitude and disregard for civilian lives. The Nigerian Defense Headquarters’ (DHQ) justification for the airstrikes, represents a shocking abdication of accountability and a staggering disregard for human life. The army’s claim that the deaths were caused by “secondary explosion” rather than the airstrikes themselves is as hollow as it is callous. The Nigerian military must understand that in a democracy, it is answerable to the people. Civilians are not expendable. Every life lost in Silame is a failure of the military’s duty, and no amount of doublespeak can justify this senseless massacre. The nation deserves better. The victims deserve justice.
Reacting to the incident, the Chairman of Silame LGA, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammad Daftarana, said: “The villagers were sitting peacefully when the bombs started dropping on the communities. They were innocent and peace-loving people who had no criminal record.” But in a swift reaction, the Joint Task Force (JTF), North West Operation Fansan Yamma declared that the targets struck during the operation “have been positively identified as associated with the Lakurawa group, reinforcing the justification for the military action taken”. A statement by JTF spokesman, Lt. Colonel Abdullahi Abubakar, said: “The Joint Task Force, North West, Operation Fasan Yamma, has addressed recent reports concerning a military fighter jet allegedly bombing civilian structures in the Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State. These reports have raised concerns; however, it is crucial to clarify that all military operations are conducted based on thorough intelligence and reconnaissance missions.”
The JTF statement was followed by a briefing at the DHQ in Abuja last Friday, during which the Director of Defense Media Operations, Major Gen. Edward Buba, said the deaths and injuries were due to “secondary explosions” and not a direct result of the strikes. “Now, I spoke about secondary explosions. Because one of the targets was a logistic base of the terrorists in the community. When I talk of a logistics base, I’m talking of armed caches and poles that were kept there. So, naturally, when the munition hits, there will be a secondary explosion arising from that which will generate other things flying in the air which was what led to the death of about 10 persons that was reported. The 10 persons reported were not hit directly by the air strikes. “The people who were hit directly by the air strikes were the Lakurawa terrorist groups, and they were burned beyond recognition.”
According to Buba, the military confirmed that the strikes hit the target. “To make sure that those that we saw at that location were indeed terrorists, the Lakurawa terrorist group. And we did that by sending human intelligence to confirm and they got back to us and confirmed and it was thereafter that we carried out a joint operation, a combined synchronized operation with the Air Force and ground forces,” he said. “Air Force carried out precision strikes using precision munitions. After the strikes, the land component on the ground moved on the site, and what did they confirm? They confirmed that ‘Yes, the strikes hit the objective.’ That is that.”
It is chilling to hear the DHQ boast about “precision strikes” that supposedly hit their target, while dismissing civilian deaths as an unfortunate byproduct. This attempt to sanitize the killing of innocent people is a gross violation of the military’s duty to protect, not harm, Nigerian citizens. Major Gen. Buba’s assertion that the strikes targeted a terrorist logistics base and resulted in secondary explosions doesn’t exonerate the military; it condemns it. If the airstrikes truly hit their intended targets with precision, why were civilians caught in the crossfire? How does the death of peace-loving villagers, described as innocent by their own local government chairman, align with claims of thorough intelligence? If the explosions caused such devastation to civilians, it raises serious questions about the military’s operational intelligence and planning. Didn’t they anticipate the presence of civilians in the vicinity? Were precautions taken to minimize civilian casualties? The tragic answers lie in the graves of the innocent victims.
This is not the first time the Nigerian military has hidden behind technical jargon and half-hearted justifications to explain away civilian deaths. Such incidents have become alarmingly frequent, signaling either gross incompetence or a complete disregard for the sanctity of human life. How many more villages must be bombed, and how many more families must be shattered before the military takes responsibility for its failures? The military’s narrative, riddled with contradictions, suggests a deeper systemic problem. The excuse of “secondary explosions” only highlights a lack of adequate planning and intelligence. Worse, it underscores the military’s failure to prioritize the lives of the very people it is sworn to defend.
This is not an isolated incident. Time and again, Nigeria’s military has bombed those it is duty-bound to protect. Whether it’s a case of terrorists using civilians as shields or sheer incompetence by Nigerian Air Force pilots operating the jets, the truth remains buried under a mountain of denials. The army’s refusal to release findings of previous investigations into such tragedies betrays a chilling lack of transparency. Mistakes happen in war. But when mistakes become periodic massacres, they are no longer errors; they are symptoms of a deeper rot. The periodic slaughter of innocent civilians under the guise of fighting terrorism must stop. The military’s inability or unwillingness to prioritize civilian safety is a gross violation of its mandate and a stain on the nation’s democracy.
Democracy demands accountability. Political leaders who oversee this tragedy must compel military commanders to end this cycle of slaughter. The silence of the Tinubu government is deafening and unforgivable. Nigerians deserve a military that can distinguish between friend and foe, that values human life over flawed reconnaissance, and that is willing to own up to its mistakes. It is time for the Nigerian government to demand transparency and accountability from its armed forces. President Bola Tinubu must order an independent investigation into this atrocity and ensure those responsible are held to account. No explanation, no excuse, and no statement can undo the lives lost in Silame. But Nigerians must demand systemic reform to ensure that no more innocent lives are sacrificed under the guise of fighting terrorism. This is not just a call for justice; it is a plea for humanity.
