The Defence Headquarters clarified that the deaths of 10 civilians in Sokoto were caused by secondary explosions, not direct airstrikes. The operation targeted a terrorist logistics base. Director Edward Buba also addressed concerns about drones used by terrorists, describing them as ineffective and commercially available.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has clarified that the deaths of 10 civilians in Sokoto were not a result of direct military airstrikes but rather secondary explosions. On Christmas Day, Sokoto state officials reported that two military jets mistakenly bombed Gidan Bisa village, leading to civilian casualties.
Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, explained that the deaths occurred during a joint operation targeting the Lakurawa terrorist group in the region. The operation, part of Operation Fassan Yamma, involved both air and land forces. Intelligence had confirmed the presence of terrorists before the mission. One of the strike targets was a terrorist logistics base, which included arms caches and other supplies. When the bombs hit the base, secondary explosions occurred, sending debris flying and causing civilian deaths.
Buba emphasized that the civilians were not directly struck by the airstrikes, which targeted the terrorists. The terrorists themselves were killed in the precision strikes and "burned beyond recognition." He stressed that the operation was carefully planned, backed by intelligence and reconnaissance to ensure its effectiveness.
On the issue of drones used by terrorists, Buba addressed concerns by stating that the drones in question were not military-grade but commercially available models, which had little effect. He reassured that steps are being taken to counter such tactics in the future.
