”The indiscriminate killing of innocent citizens can never be justified,” Atiku speaks on Sokoto airstrike

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly condemned the airstrike in Sokoto State on Wednesday, which reportedly claimed the lives of about 10 individuals.

While the Sokoto State government alleged that the military operation resulted in the deaths of innocent villagers, the military maintained that the strike was directed at members of the Lakurawa terrorist group.

Reacting to the incident in a post on his X handle on Thursday, Atiku said “the devastating airstrike that claimed the lives of nearly a dozen innocent civilians and left many others wounded in the peaceful communities of Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa in Sokoto State is an outrage that must be condemned in the strongest terms.”

The ex-VP wondered if any lesson was learnt from the Tudun Biri airstrike that killed over 80 civilians in December last year.

While acknowledging the legitimacy of targeting terrorists, the former Vice President said that “these strikes must be carried out with unmatched precision and based on irrefutable intelligence.”

The statement further read, “The indiscriminate killing of innocent citizens — our brothers, our sisters, our neighbors— can never be justified. It is not only a failure but a gross violation of humanity itself. When those who are meant to be our partners in the fight against terrorism are instead treated as targets, we are sowing the seeds of further division and anger.

“We cannot expect them to see a difference between those who protect them and those who harm them when they are caught in the crossfire. We must stop this tragic cycle of death.

“The only way forward is to learn from the past, to make sure that every life is valued, and to ensure no more families have to mourn the loss of loved ones to senseless violence. To the grieving families and the people of Sokoto, my heart goes out to you. May the souls of the departed rest in eternal peace.”

Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, has visited the two communities impacted by the military airstrike and announced a ₦20 million donation to support the families affected by the incident.