Sokoto Bombing: We Don’t Believe Military’s Version – ACF’s Spokesman, Baba

The National Publicity Secretary of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Tukur Muhammad Baba, has said the account of the Sokoto bombing from the military was insensitive.

Tukur Baba said military cannot be investigating the bombing of Gidan Bisa and Runtuwa villages that involve its personnel.

In an interview with News Central on Friday, ACF’s spokesman decried that the military has refused to come clean with a thorough investigation report involving civil society organizations.

Professor Baba also condemned the account of intelligence from the military. He stated that the two villages were more of desert zones and the military would have been provided with every necessary intelligence by the traditional rulers of the villages.

“At first, the military said they acted on intelligence. It turned out to be very devastating intelligence. Then, of course, they tried to scatter around when that couldn’t work. They promised investigations and actually the investigation was conducted by the military itself.

“So the military was allowed to investigate itself. A report came out, it was an error and some people had been held to account. There are no details of who was held to account. Or exactly what happened to them. Be that as it may, we could excuse that,” he said.

The ACF spokesman regretted that no information was given by the military on the actual account of the event, stating that lessons have not been learned.

“But then at the very least, we should expect the lessons have been learnt. Obviously, this has not been the case. Lessons have not been lost. We have just had an announcement that people were held to account. We don’t know how or how severe exactly what their role was. None of this was given. I mean, when the military gets to investigate itself, you don’t expect anything,” he stated.

Baba called for an unbiased investigation into the airstrike involving civil rights activists. He demanded an assurance from the military that such an error would not be repeated in their operations.

“And of course, when we talk of the Sokoto state government, the Sokoto state government is severely constrained. It has no control over the military.  There should be an open investigation by the military, along with civil rights groups and other arms of government. This did not happen.

“So what is appearing to happen is that each time there is a mistake, you claim because we don’t know the actual results to have investigated and taken action. Exactly what action we don’t know.

“So what we are saying is that look, we need to be given a more believable version of exactly what happened. More important than that. We need to be assured that steps are taken and all will be done to avoid such casualties outside of extremely rare accidents,” he said.

Speaking on intelligence, ACF spokesman continued, “Now, intelligence in such an area is not a forested area for God’s sake. If there were terrorists there, any traditional ruler in that area would tell you where they are. So the human intelligence should have been given priority more than an airplane flying the villages. They just woke up in the morning. They are flying all over, all of a sudden bombs were flying and then homes were being destroyed. Women and children were dying. For God’s sake. I mean, I’m sorry to say I personally do not believe the version of the military and I think it’s very, very insensitive.”