The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has described the Christmas Day military airstrike that occurred in two communities within the Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State, as an incident “one far too many”.
The airstrike had resulted in the deaths of 10 persons and several others injured.
Following the incident. ACF urged the military to reevaluate its strategies and tactics in addressing the insecurity plaguing both the North and the entire country.
In a statement issued in Kaduna by its National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad Baba, the ACF expressed its concerns over an attempt by the military to deny the killing of civilians by the Defence spokesman in the aftermath of the incident.
The forum, therefore, insisted that compensation be paid for those who suffered death and injuries in line with Islamic legal principles and injunctions in the community.
“The Silame disaster is simply one far too many. The bland response of a spokesperson of the military insisting that the attack was on a planned target was most insensitive.
ACF recalls that the Defence Headquarters had initially attempted to wish away the Tudun Biri tragedy only to later admit it as a mistake, as indeed proved so by its own internal investigations. It is not clear if indeed those responsible for Tudun biri had been punished as ought to have been.
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ACF also commended the Sokoto State Government for the prompt response and called on those concerned to double up efforts to see that the promises made by the state Governor, Ahmed Aliyu are carried out without delay.
“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.
