Apex Northern sociocultural group, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has described the military bomb attack on two communities in the Silame local government area of Sokoto State on Wednesday, 25th December 2024, which resulted in the death of 10 persons with scores suffering injuries as one mistake too many.
Recall that the Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu, in reaction, visited the communities and took part in funeral obsequies for the deceased, condoled the community while reassuring the injured of prompt medical attention at government expenses.
ACF commended the Sokoto State government for its prompt response and called on those concerned to double their efforts to ensure the governor’s promises are carried out without delay.
According to a statement issued by the national publicity secretary of the forum, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, ACF is deeply troubled and saddened by the Silame incident, which is one far too many in the country. stressing that this was not an isolated incident as the memories of a similar attack on the Tudun Biri community, Kaduna State, about a year ago, and earlier in Adamawa and Nasarawa States, with their gruesome statistics of casualties, remain fresh in memory.
“ACF remained unequivocally supportive of our military and other security forces in their determination to stamp out terrorism and all forms of criminality in Nigeria. None should doubt such support, and ACF calls on all patriotic Nigeria to extend the same support to the security forces”.
“It is just unacceptable that terrorists and criminal elements of all hues should not be allowed to hold the Nation to ransom through their anti-people activities.
“That said, incidents such as that at Silame (and others before it) and the statistics of their impacts on innocent citizens assume a most disturbing pattern with the human costs unacceptable. The Silame disaster is simply one of far too many. The bland response of a spokesperson of the military insisting that the attack was on a planned target was most insensitive.
ACF further recalled that the Defence Headquarters had initially attempted to wish away the Tuden Biri tragedy only to later admit it as a mistake, as indeed proved so by its own internal investigations. It added that it is unclear if those responsible for Tudun Biri had been punished as they should have been. ”
With the debacle at Silame, it is clear, in the least, that lessons had been learnt and, more importantly, applied as steps to avert the “errors”
ACF extended its condolences and sympathies to the people of Silame and the government of Sokoto State regarding the incident and prayed that Almighty God would provide all with the strength to bear the loss.
As in the past, in the wake of such tragedies, ACF called on the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Military High Command to conduct thorough investigations into the Silame incidents, with results made public and assurances that concrete steps, as opposed to the usual bland assurances or lip service, will be taken to avert such tragic incidents. “Never again must anyone, anywhere, suffer such costs as these avoidable ‘mistakes’ bring”.
Additionally, ACF insists that compensation be paid for those who suffered death and injuries in line with Islamic legal principles and injunctions in the community and that Sokoto State Government should insist on the right things, as called for here, done and should also extend further assistance to the members of the community as they embark on rebuilding their lives and livelihoods.
“Calls on humanitarian and relief organisations, well-to-do individuals and other members of the public to extend support and relief to the people of Silame Community in their hour of need in the aftermath of the tragedy;
“As it did with Tudun Biri, ACF recommends that all promises made or to be made to the Silame community and victims of the attack, in particular, will be fulfilled in the shortest time possible. Corrupt, unscrupulous or unsympathetic elements must not be allowed any room to corner any relief materials meant for the victims selfishly, as has sadly become usual in the aftermath of disasters. No one should be allowed to benefit from the misery of the victims of the bomb blast.”
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