ACF Condemns Sokoto Airstrike, Demands Military Strategy Overhaul

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has described the Christmas Day airstrike in Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State, which left 10 dead and several injured, as an incident “one far too many.”

The Forum called on the military to reassess its strategies in tackling insecurity across the country.

In a statement issued on Tuesday in Kaduna by its National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad Baba, the ACF expressed grave concern over the military’s handling of the incident.

The Defence Headquarters had initially dismissed reports of civilian casualties, a response the ACF labelled “insensitive.”

“The bland response of a spokesperson of the military insisting that the attack was on a planned target was most insensitive,” the ACF said.

It further accused the military of repeating past mistakes, referencing the Tudun Biri airstrike, where an initial denial of civilian casualties was later reversed following internal investigations.

“It is not clear if indeed those responsible for Tudun Biri had been punished as ought to have been,” the statement added.

The ACF insisted that compensation be paid to the victims’ families in line with Islamic legal principles. “Those who suffered death and injuries must be compensated adequately and promptly,” the group stated.

The Forum commended the swift response of Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu, urging him to fulfill promises made to the affected communities without delay.

The statement noted, “ACF is deeply troubled and saddened by the Silame incident, as one far too many in the country. This was not an isolated incident as the memories of a similar attack on the Tudun Biri community, Kaduna State, about a year ago, and earlier in Adamawa and Nasarawa states, with their gruesome statistics of casualties, remain fresh in memory.

“The Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, in reaction visited the communities and took part in funeral obsequies for the deceased, condoled the community while reassuring the injured of prompt medical attention at Government expenses.

“ACF remains unequivocally supportive of our military and other security forces in their determination to stamp out terrorism and all forms of criminality in Nigeria.

“None should be in doubt about such support, and ACF calls on all patriotic Nigeria to extend same support to the security forces. It is just unacceptable that terrorists and criminal elements of all hues should not be allowed to hold the Nation to ransom through their anti-people activities.

“That said, incidents such as that at Silame (and others before it) and the statistics of their impacts on innocent citizens are assuming a most disturbing pattern with the human costs unacceptable.

“With the debacle at Silame, it is clear, in the least, that lessons had been learnt and, more importantly, applied as steps to avert the “errors”

ACF extended its condolences and sympathies to the people of Silame, and the Government of Sokoto State on the incident, and prayed that Almighty God provides all with the strength to bear the loss.