Secondary Explosion, Not Military Airstrike, Killed Sokoto Villagers, DHQ Insists
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has insisted that its airstrike in Sokoto targeted and struck a Lakurawa terrorist group logistics base, which led to a secondary explosion that resulted in civilian casualties, not the airstrike itself.
The Military High Command clarified that the location targeted was confirmed as a terrorist hideout and the operation was carried out with precision. Major General Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, stated on Friday that no civilians were directly killed in the military airstrike itself.
“The airstrike indeed hit the logistics base of the terrorists, which led to secondary explosions. It was these secondary explosions that caused the casualties previously reported,” General Buba said.
He explained that before the operation on December 25, 2024, there was significant intelligence indicating heightened terrorist activity in the area. Extensive intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) efforts were conducted to confirm the presence of the terrorists, ensuring the targets were legitimate. This led to the delay of the operation, which was rescheduled for December 25 to allow thorough preparation.
Buba further explained that the operation was a joint effort, combining air and land forces. The air component conducted precision strikes, while the land component was deployed to secure the area and assess the aftermath of the strike. The ground forces confirmed that the terrorist hideout was successfully neutralized with minimal damage observed in surrounding villages.
The military also confirmed the destruction of key terrorist infrastructure and reported that surviving terrorists fled the area immediately after the strike. Local civilians confirmed the presence of the Lakurawa group in the region and acknowledged that the airstrike achieved its primary objective of neutralizing the terrorist group’s hideout.
While the strike itself had minimal impact on surrounding villages, the military admitted that the secondary explosions caused by the destruction of terrorist infrastructure contributed to the casualties. General Buba emphasized that the military’s objective was to target terrorists, not innocent civilians, and that the challenges of distinguishing between combatants and non-combatants in areas where terrorists blend with the local population contributed to the difficulties in minimizing civilian casualties.
In conclusion, the DHQ reiterated its commitment to minimizing civilian harm while targeting terrorists and their infrastructure, noting that the terrorists often blend within the local populace, making operations challenging.
