Vice President Kashim Shettima has apologised to the families of victims of the airstrikes in Silame Local Government Area, Sokoto State.
The military targeted a logistics base of the Lakurawa insurgent group on December 25, but the operation mistakenly resulted in the deaths of ten civilians.
Three days later, Shettima expressed his heartfelt condolences to the affected families, calling the incident a rare tragedy in the fight against terror.
“We are deeply sorry for the civilian casualties and the pain caused. It is a tragic consequence of efforts to eliminate terror from our country,” he said in a statement issued by his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha.
Shettima called for understanding and support for the armed forces, highlighting the sacrifices they make to protect civilians. He urged the public to provide information to help the military distinguish terrorists from innocent citizens.
The Vice President assured Sokoto residents of the Federal Government’s commitment to eradicating terrorism, pledging that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration would continue to prioritise peace and security nationwide.