Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Sokoto State chapter, has called for more support for airstrike victims and a requisite investigation into the incident.

In a statement on Monday in Sokoto, the Islamic organisation expressed worry about the bombing of innocent citizens, resulting in the killing of ten people and wounding many, with several properties destroyed.

He described the incident as disturbing, saying it highlighted the ongoing issue of killings of citizens through bombing without identifying and court-martialing the culprits.

”By way of emphasis, in the provisions of both civil and military laws in Nigeria, it is a criminal offence to kill citizens by mistake. It is alarming that this is not an isolated incident.

”While we commend the efforts of the Nigerian Air Force in fighting Lakurawa terrorists and bandits, we condemn, in the strongest terms, the killing of innocent citizens.

”We demand that those who carried out the bombing be identified and subjected to legal process,” Mr Aliyu said.

He emphasised that killing someone, even if it is by mistake, is a criminal offence in itself, liable to punishment, particularly for military personnel.

The chairman recalled that in 2019, Nigeria Air Force officers killed two innocent citizens in the Mabera area of the Sokoto metropolis.

He said the report of the committee that investigated the murder was neither made public nor communicated to the lawyers of the victims, who fully took part during the sittings of the committee.

”We, therefore, demand a serious, sincere and unbiased investigation. The public deserves to know the truth, and those responsible must be held accountable for their negligence.

”An open and transparent investigation with a clear timeline, coupled with a guarantee of a report of the outcome, will help restore trust and ensure justice is served.

”The people of Nigeria deserve better, and it is time for the government to take concrete actions to protect its citizens’ rights and lives,” Mr Aliyu said.

Military troops had, on December 25, in a coordinated joint operation by Operation Fassan Yamma, destroyed the Lakurawa terrorist group in their hideouts, resulting in the death of about 10 people.

The operation, targeted at the terrorists’ hideouts in Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa communities in the Silame Local Government Area of the state, also saw several others injured.

(NAN)