Kehinde Fajobi
The Defence Headquarters has maintained that Lakurawa terrorists were present in the villages affected by the Christmas Day airstrikes in Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State, which resulted in 10 deaths.
Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, stated during a briefing on Friday that both Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions and local confirmations pointed to the use of Gidan Bisa and Gidan Runtuwa as staging grounds for terrorist operations.
“Locals of the area confirmed that Lakurawa terrorists stayed in the village and used the general area as a staging ground for their operations,” Buba said.
He added that investigations are ongoing to determine whether the casualties included terrorist collaborators.
The airstrikes, part of a joint operation by the Air and Land Components of Operation Fansan Yamma, targeted an arms cache and logistics dump used by the Lakurawa Terrorist Group.
Precision-guided munitions were deployed to minimise collateral damage.
“The airstrike on the terrorist arms cache and logistics dump also led to secondary explosions, causing munitions to detonate in different directions, resulting in 10 deaths,” Buba explained.
He further noted that ground troops, deployed to the area for post-strike assessments, confirmed the hideouts were successfully neutralised, with minimal damage observed to the surrounding villages.
Military intelligence, backed by Human Intelligence (HUMINT) reports, consistently indicated that the villages were high-concentration locations for the Lakurawa terrorists, according to the military.
“This was not a random operation,” Buba said. “The military conducted sustained ISR missions over an extended period before acting.”
While expressing regret over civilian casualties, Buba reiterated the Armed Forces’ commitment to protecting Nigerian citizens.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria has a duty to defend citizens from terrorists, either through peaceful means or by force of arms,” he stated.
He also emphasised the need to hold terrorists accountable for using civilian areas as operational bases.
“All civilian casualties are viewed as a needless tragedy. Nevertheless, we will not relent in targeting and dislodging terrorists across our nation,” Buba concluded.
The military’s stance comes amidst scrutiny over the airstrikes, with critics questioning the adequacy of measures taken to protect civilians.
However, the Defence Headquarters insists the operation was necessary to disrupt terrorist activities in the region.