Nigerian Military Denies Responsibility for Civilian Casualties in Sokoto Airstrikes
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) in Abuja has clarified its position on the recent airstrikes in Silame Local Government Area, Sokoto State, where “about 10 persons” reportedly died. The strikes, conducted on Wednesday morning, were intended to target the Lakurawa terrorist group but also resulted in civilian casualties in the affected communities, Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa.
DHQ Attributes Deaths to Secondary Explosions
Addressing the incident during a briefing on Friday, Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, explained that the civilian deaths were caused by “secondary explosions” from the terrorists’ logistics base, not direct airstrikes.
“One of the targets was a logistics base of the terrorists, which included armed caches and poles. When the munition hit, it caused secondary explosions, leading to objects flying in the air, which resulted in the reported deaths,” said Buba.
He stressed that the airstrikes were precise and confirmed to have directly targeted and neutralized members of the Lakurawa terrorist group, describing the casualties among the terrorists as “burned beyond recognition.”
Military Conducted Thorough Confirmation
Buba outlined the steps taken to verify the targets before the operation. Human intelligence confirmed the presence of the Lakurawa terrorist group at the location before precision munitions were deployed in a coordinated operation involving the Air Force and ground troops.
“After the strikes, the land forces moved to the site and confirmed that the objective was hit,” he added.
Civilian Casualties Spark Concerns
Despite the military’s explanation, the deaths and injuries among civilians have continued to generate reactions from Nigerians. Critics have questioned the measures taken to mitigate collateral damage during such operations.
Burial and Aftermath
The civilians killed in the airstrikes were reportedly buried in accordance with Islamic rites. The incident underscores the challenges faced in counter-terrorism operations, particularly in areas where terrorist activities and civilian populations intersect.
While the military insists the operation was successful in targeting terrorists, the unintended loss of civilian lives remains a significant concern for affected communities and human rights advocates.