Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly condemned the December 25 accidental airstrike by the Nigerian Air Force, which led to the deaths of at least 10 people in the Rumtuwa and Gidan Sama communities of Sokoto State. The two villages, located near the Surame desert known for harboring the Lakurawa terror group suffered significant casualties in the attack.
In a post shared on X, Atiku described the airstrike as an outrage that must be condemned in the strongest terms and raised concerns about the lack of lessons learned from previous military tragedies. He referenced the deadly December 3, 2023, airstrike on a religious gathering near Kaduna, which also resulted in numerous innocent casualties.
Atiku emphasized the critical need for precision and reliable intelligence in military operations, stressing that the indiscriminate killing of innocent citizens can never be justified. He called for an end to the tragic cycle of death and urged the government and military authorities to reflect on past mistakes to avoid further civilian casualties.
In his message of condolence to the families affected by the recent airstrike, Atiku expressed his sympathies, saying, May the souls of the departed rest in eternal peace.
