The Defence Headquarters has clarified that civilian deaths reported during the December 25 military operation in Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State were caused by secondary explosions from a destroyed terrorist arms cache, not the airstrikes themselves.
Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, explained that the operation, targeting Lakurawas Terrorist Group (LTG) hideouts in Gidan Bisa and Gidan Runtuwa, was executed with precision to minimize civilian casualties.
“The airstrikes were conducted using precision-guided munitions to avoid collateral damage. However, secondary explosions from the terrorists’ hoarded munitions resulted in 10 deaths,” he said. Investigations are ongoing to ascertain whether the victims were terrorist collaborators.
The operation was part of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, a coordinated effort involving both air and ground forces. Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, along with Human Intelligence (HUMINT), had confirmed that the area was a high-concentration hideout for the Lakurawas terrorists.
The air component launched a precision strike at 0600 hours, effectively destroying the terrorists’ infrastructure, including arms caches and logistics dumps. The resulting secondary explosions further degraded the group’s capabilities.
Meanwhile, ground troops, positioned strategically to block escape routes, provided post-strike assessments and interacted with local residents.
Local communities confirmed that the terrorists had used the area as a staging ground for their operations, disrupting peace in the region. Ground forces reported minimal damage to surrounding villages and reinforced the military’s commitment to avoiding civilian casualties.
“The Armed Forces will continue to take painstaking measures to prevent civilian harm. Any civilian casualty is a needless tragedy, but we remain resolute in neutralizing terrorist threats across the nation,” Major General Buba emphasized.
This operation underscores the military’s commitment to safeguarding Nigerian citizens and dismantling terrorist networks through precise and coordinated actions.
LV