The 2023 Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the latest airstrike in Sokoto, calling for an end to the killing of civilians.
He stated this in an X post on Thursday
NPO Reports recalls that a jet bombing occurred in the Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa communities of Silame Local Government Area of the state leading to death of about 10 villagers with dozens also injured.
NPO reports that the airstrikes by the Nigerian Air Force was targeted at the Lakurawa terrorist group.
“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.”
Atiku in his post questioned the recent similar tragedies, asking how many more lives needs to be lost before action is taken.
“But this tragedy begs the question: What have we truly learnt from the heart-wrenching losses of the past? On December 3, 2023, tens of innocent lives were lost in a brutal airstrike on a religious gathering at Tudun Biri, near Kaduna. How many more lives must be lost before we take action?
“While targeting terrorists is a legitimate goal, these strikes must be carried out with unmatched precision and based on irrefutable intelligence.”
He emphasized that the killing of innocent civilians can not be justified.
”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. Amin. -Atiku” the post read.