Silame Local Government Chairman, Abubakar Muhammad, has insisted that the Nigerian Air Force jet killed their farmers who had no links to terrorists or the alleged Lakurawa sect, as claimed by the military.
He made the assertion on Friday when members of the community converged on his house to commiserate with him about the incident.
Muhammad who acknowledged the military’s efforts in the community, insisted that the attack could not be overlooked.
The military said the fighter jet was targeting Lakurawa terrorists in the areas, but in the process dropped explosives that killed residents, and livestock, and burnt several food silos and houses.
The Nigerian Air Force has said it would investigate the incident, but the NAF spokesperson, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, has defended the airstrikes, saying the bombing were carried out based on credible intelligence from multiple sources and after confirmatory aerial surveillance.
The Joint Media Coordination Centre of the Operation, Lieutenant-Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi, spokesperson in similar tone, maintaining that the military operation was based on thorough reconnaissance missions.
But the LG chairman and other villagers have rejected these claims.
The LG chief said, “It is unfortunate that this is happening. We are deeply saddened by this incident, and we want justice for the victims.
“Look at how they were killed, how the village was razed, and how their food stores were destroyed. It is disheartening. They have really suffered, and it is very unfortunate that such a thing is happening at this time, right after the harvest.
“The community is burnt down, but what can we do? The deed has been done, and it’s very unfortunate.”
A local who saw how the bombing took place, Faruk Abubakar, said it occurred early in the morning when some residents returned home after praying at the mosque.
He said, “Some of us were sitting where we usually drank early morning pap brought by a woman when we suddenly saw the aircraft flying low and coming towards us. We thought it was just passing through until it lowered further. We started running and heard a loud sound, followed by fire spreading fast.
“Some people were still sleeping in their huts when the bomb landed. Many people were feared dead immediately, while others sustained various degrees of injuries.”
Another resident, Alhaji Audu Abubakar, said the incident came to them as a rude shock.
He said, “It was a black Wednesday for our people here. We woke up to the worst calamity we’ve ever faced.
“It felt like a dream when it happened. I lost my friend in the blast. We were together on Tuesday night, but unfortunately, I woke up on Wednesday only to realise he had died in such a terrible way.
“We need justice for the people who died. We are not criminals and have never harboured any criminals in our midst. The allegations against us are false, and we want this matter thoroughly investigated.”
Another villager, Abubakar Silame, who condemned the airstrike, said the affected community had never been involved in any security issues.
He said, “The attack came to us unexpectedly. It happened early in the morning when some of us were still sleeping.
“We suddenly saw aircraft moving around our communities. We were surprised to see the aircraft, but before we could figure out what was happening, we heard a loud noise, followed by fire.
“Some of us ran for our lives, not even knowing whether we would survive or not, while others were caught in the fire. It was a terrible situation.
“We definitely want justice for our people, and we urge both the federal and state governments to come to our aid.
“We have lost our homes, our people, our food store, and all our animals.”
A villager, who did not identify himself, said, “Our food store was razed down. You know, we just finished harvesting, and everything we had stored is gone. All our animals, including camels, cows, goats, and others, are all dead.”
A young girl, who identified herself simply as Hauwa’u, said she witnessed the moment her parents and three younger siblings were burned to death in the airstrike by the military.
“I saw them burning: my mother, my father, and my three younger siblings,” she stated.
An anonymous senior government official in the state, said the the military was lying and reaffirmed that eyewitnesses confirmed that it was the strike from the aircraft that killed the residents.
He said, “How can they deny what they did? There was nothing like maybe it hit something or whatever.
“Our preliminary investigation on the spot confirmed that it was what they threw that caused the killing; they should stop telling lies.”
