A survivor of the recent tragic airstrike in Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State has shared a chilling account of watching her family perish in the flames.

The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, spoke to BBC Hausa, describing the horrifying moment when she saw her father, mother, and four younger siblings consumed by the inferno caused by the attack.

Through tearful words, she recounted, “I saw them burning, my mother, my father, and my three younger brothers.”

The airstrike, reportedly launched by a Nigerian military warplane, took place on Tuesday morning and was aimed at suspected insurgents.

However, the attack tragically resulted in the deaths of 10 civilians, with six others left injured, alongside the loss of around 100 animals, including camels, cattle, sheep, and donkeys.

Usman Manuga, a local resident, described the events leading up to the devastation: “After the Fajr (early morning) prayer, we saw planes flying overhead. Shortly after, bombs dropped, and everything went up in flames.”

During the victims’ funeral on Wednesday evening, Sokoto State Governor Ahmad Aliyu expressed sorrow over the incident, calling it an unfortunate mistake.

He explained, “This situation was destined to happen. The officials acted with the intention of protecting the community. We will ensure a thorough investigation is conducted to prevent such incidents in the future.”

To support the grieving families, the governor announced 100 bags of food supplies and ₦20 million in relief funds.

Abubakar Muhammad, Chairman of Silame Local Government, confirmed the attack and revealed that two warplanes were involved, targeting the villages of Gidan Bisa and Runtuwa.

He noted that the assault was intense and only ended after the intervention of the state government, which coordinated with both the Air Force and ground forces to halt the operation.

The villages affected by the attack are situated near the Surame desert, which is believed to be a stronghold for Lakurawa insurgents.

This tragedy marks the ninth incident of accidental military airstrikes on civilians in Nigeria in recent years, following other such tragedies, including the December 3, 2023 drone strike in Kaduna that killed 85 worshippers and the January 2017 military strike on a refugee camp in Borno State.

Governor Aliyu assured the community that a full investigation is underway to prevent further incidents like this.

The survivor, along with other affected residents, is left to mourn the devastating loss of their loved ones while hoping for better safeguards to protect civilians during military operations.

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a 32-year-old man, Chukwuma Obi, from Umuagu Village in Igboukwu, Aguata Local Government Area, on charges of kidnapping and extortion.

According to Tochukwu Ikenga, the Police Public Relations Officer, Obi was detained by Anti-Cultism Squad officers in the Enugu-Ukwu area of Njikoka Local Government.

Obi allegedly demanded a ransom of ₦1.2 million from a victim, threatening abduction if the payment was not made.

He reportedly claimed to be a member of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to intimidate the victim.

The victim promptly reported receiving threatening messages from Obi, instructing that the ransom be transferred into a designated account.

During questioning, Obi admitted to the crime and is now cooperating with the police to help identify and arrest other members of the gang involved in similar activities.

In response to the arrest, Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Obono Itam, reiterated the command’s commitment to bringing criminals to justice and urged residents to report any suspicious activities to the police or through emergency contact lines.

The Joint Task Force North-West, operating under ‘Operation Fansan Yamma,’ has reaffirmed that its recent airstrike in Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State targeted positions linked to the Lakurawa terrorist group, not innocent civilians.

This statement comes in response to reports alleging that a military fighter jet bombed civilian homes in two villages in the region.

The military issued the clarification on Wednesday through Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi, the Coordinator of the Joint Media Coordination Centre for Operation Fansan Yamma.

The military emphasized that its operations are carried out based on comprehensive intelligence and reconnaissance to ensure precision, particularly when targeting groups like the Lakurawa terrorist organization.

“Precision is key in such operations, and we work to minimize harm to civilians,” the statement read.

“We urge the public to rely on verified information to avoid spreading misinformation and causing undue panic.”

The statement also warned that terrorist groups might attempt to use media disinformation to distort military achievements.

It reiterated that the targets near Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa were identified as belonging to the Lakurawa group, justifying the military’s actions.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecasted dust haze to affect the country from Thursday to Saturday, with varying intensities across different regions.

According to NiMet’s weather outlook released on Wednesday in Abuja, the northern region is expected to experience slight dust haze with good visibility throughout the forecast period.

The same condition is anticipated for the North Central states, which will also see slight dust haze and clear visibility.

In contrast, the southern parts of the country are forecasted to experience moderate dust haze, with visibility ranging from 2km to 5km.

The agency also noted that early morning fog or mist is expected over the coastal areas.

For Friday, NiMet predicts a shift to moderate dust haze in the northern and North Central regions, with visibility ranging from 2km to 5km.

The southern regions will continue to face moderate dust haze, and early morning fog or mist will persist over the coast. Slight dust haze with some cloud cover is expected in the afternoon and evening.

NiMet issued a caution about the suspension of dust particles in the air, urging the public to take precautions, especially individuals with respiratory conditions such as asthma.

The agency recommended following safety advisories issued by relevant authorities.

Additionally, NiMet advised airline operators to obtain airport-specific weather reports to ensure safe planning for their operations during the dust haze period.

The agency urged residents to stay updated on weather developments via NiMet’s official channels.

An airstrike in the Sokoto communities of Gidan Bisa and Runtuwa on Wednesday morning has led to the deaths of 10 civilians, sparking differing accounts between local officials and the military.

The attack, which occurred at around 6 a.m., involved bombs dropped by military jets reportedly targeting bandits in the Silame Local Government Area.

According to Hon. Abubakar Gitta Rana, Chairman of the Local Government, the airstrike also resulted in the death of livestock and was described as an “erroneous” assault on innocent civilians.

However, the Joint Task Force (JTF) North West, operating under the banner of Operation Fasan Yamma, defended the strike, asserting that it had targeted the Lakurawa terrorist group.

Lt. Col. Abdullahi Abubakar, a spokesman for the JTF, emphasized that the operation was legitimate and warned against misinformation being spread by terrorist groups and their supporters.

In the wake of the tragedy, Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu, alongside prominent figures such as Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko and Labour Minister Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, visited the affected communities to offer condolences to the families of the victims.

The governor participated in funeral prayers for the deceased and expressed sorrow over the incident, describing it as a “tragic mistake.”

“The jets were on a mission to target criminal elements but unfortunately bombed innocent civilians. This is a tragic incident, and we will ensure a thorough investigation to prevent such mistakes in the future,” Governor Aliyu stated.

To support the bereaved families, the state government announced a donation of ₦20 million and 100 bags of foodstuffs.

Additionally, they pledged to cover medical expenses for those injured in the airstrike.

A tragic incident occurred in Gombe on Christmas Day when a commercial bus lost control and crashed into a group of celebrants, injuring 22 people.

The victims, part of a procession from Tumfure community, were on their way to the Government House and Gombe Emir’s Palace to pay homage when the accident took place.

Buhari Abdullahi, the spokesperson for the Gombe State Police, confirmed that the injured were promptly taken to the Federal Teaching Hospital and Specialist Hospital for treatment.

Fortunately, no fatalities were reported.

The police have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident, with the Commissioner of Police directing the Motor Traffic Department to conduct a thorough inquiry.

The area was secured by security forces, and authorities urged the public to remain calm.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya expressed his condolences to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the victims of the crash, promising to cover their medical expenses.

Fire Destroys Shops in Onitsha, Anambra State

In another Christmas Day disaster, an early morning fire gutted several shops on Ibokwu Street, near the General Post Office in Onitsha, Anambra State.

The blaze, which began in one of the shops, quickly spread, causing extensive damage to goods worth millions of naira.

Eyewitness Mrs. Chidimma Ike reported that residents and passersby worked frantically to contain the fire, as many shop owners were away celebrating Christmas.

One of the affected shop owners, Mr. Chinedu Nnamdi, initially mistook the smoke for waste being burned before realizing the extent of the fire, which destroyed his shop and several others nearby.

Four drug kingpins involved in the record-breaking seizure of 2,139.55 kilograms of cocaine at an Ikorodu residential estate in 2022 have been sentenced by a Federal High Court in Lagos.

The convicts, including Nigerian nationals Soji Jubril Oke (71), Wasiu Akinade (55), Emmanuel Arinze Chukwu (67), and Jamaican national Kelvin Christopher Smith (44), were arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) during a series of raids on September 18 and 19, 2022, across various locations in Lagos.

The operation led to the discovery of over 2.1 tons of cocaine at 6 Olukuola Crescent, Solebo Estate, Ikorodu marking the largest cocaine seizure in Nigerian history.

The accused were charged with six counts in October and December 2022, under charge number FHC/L/607C/2022.

A fifth suspect, Oguntolure Sunday, was also arraigned but is still undergoing trial.

In a statement issued Thursday, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi confirmed that the convicts were sentenced by Justice Yellim Bogoro to a combined total of 28 years in prison with hard labor.

The sentencing details are as follows:

Kelvin Christopher Smith (Jamaican): 4 years with hard labor

Emmanuel Arinze Chukwu: 16 years with hard labor

Soji Jubril Oke: 5 years with hard labor

Wasiu Akinade: 3 years with hard labor

The convicts were also ordered to forfeit significant assets, including a grey Toyota Tacoma SUV registered in Emmanuel Chukwu’s name, $50,000 belonging to Chukwu, and various sums in Nigerian Naira ₦55,099,509.50 and ₦9,003,168.06 tied to Chukwu and Akinade, respectively.

Additionally, two properties connected to the drug cartel were finally forfeited.

The first property is located at 6 Olokunola Street, Solebo Estate, Ikorodu, which was used to conceal the seized cocaine.

The second property, situated at J9, Road 3, Close 1, Victoria Garden City Estate, Lagos, was believed to have been acquired with proceeds from drug trafficking.

The court granted the Federal Government of Nigeria full ownership of these properties and ordered that they be sold, with the proceeds paid to the government.