Peter Obi Mourns Civilian Deaths in Sokoto Airstrike, Calls for More Careful Military Operations
Peter Obi, the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has expressed profound sorrow over the tragic airstrike by a military jet that targeted the civilians of Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa in Sokoto State, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 people.
In a post shared on his X account (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, Obi stated, “I received the report of this unfortunate incident with deep sadness, where a military jet mistakenly attacked civilians in Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa in Sokoto State, leading to the loss of at least 10 lives.”
While acknowledging the ongoing battle against terrorism in Nigeria, Obi emphasized the need for better safeguards to prevent civilian casualties. “While we continue to employ all effective strategies in our fight to address the insecurity plaguing our nation, we must ensure that the civilians we are duty-bound to protect do not become victims of this war, especially in cases where such tragedies can be avoided,” he added.
The former governor of Anambra State commended the Nigerian military for its ongoing efforts in combating terrorism, yet urged them to adopt more meticulous procedures in executing military operations. “Our soldiers have done an incredible job fighting the criminals who are terrorizing our nation. I encourage them to adopt meticulous processes in launching attacks on terrorist camps to avoid further mistakes that result in the loss of civilian lives, which has now become all too frequent.”
Obi also extended his heartfelt condolences to the victims of the attack. “I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families who have suffered this great loss, as well as to the government and people of Sokoto State regarding this tragic event. May God grant them and all of us the strength to endure this monumental loss.”
Praying for the victims, Obi added, “May God forgive the sins of those who passed away, grant them Aljannah Firdaus (Paradise), and provide a speedy and full recovery to the injured.”
The airstrike, believed to have been an unfortunate mistake, has reignited concerns about the safety of civilians amidst the ongoing security operations in parts of Nigeria, and raised questions on the precision of military strikes in conflict zones.
