Sokoto Tragedy: Villagers Fall Victim To Terrorist Explosions

Sokoto Tragedy: Villagers Fall Victim To Terrorist Explosions

In the aftermath of the Christmas Day strikes on terrorist strongholds at Gidan Bisa and Gidan Runtuwa in Sokoto State’s Silame Local Government Area…READ MORE…

the Defence Headquarters clarified that the deaths of 10 villagers were the result of an explosion triggered by the destruction of a terrorist base, rather than direct airstrikes by the Nigerian Air Force.

Maj-Gen. Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, addressed the press regarding the unfortunate loss of civilian lives, explaining that the airstrike was a precision-guided operation aimed specifically at the terrorists’ hideouts. He emphasized that the casualties occurred due to a secondary explosion when the terrorists’ logistical base, which contained hazardous materials like cartridges and explosives, was struck.

He stated, “The Armed Forces of Nigeria have a responsibility to protect citizens from terrorists through either peaceful means or military action. On December 25, 2024, a coordinated operation involving the Air and Land Components of Operation Fansan Yamma was executed to dismantle the Lakurawa Terrorists Group (LTG) hideouts in Gidan Bisa and Gidan Runtuwa within the Jirikon Forest of Silame LGA. Prior to this operation, there had been an increase in terrorist activities in the region.”

The military conducted extensive Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions over a prolonged period to confirm the presence of Lakurawa terrorists in the area. The operation was postponed from an earlier date to December 25 to gather additional confirmation through Human Intelligence.

Maj-Gen. Buba noted that the operation was meticulously planned, combining the precision strike capabilities of the Air Component with the presence of ground troops. Pre-operation ISR missions and intelligence reports corroborated each other, underscoring the strategic necessity of neutralizing the target location.

The airstrike occurred around 0600 hours, employing precision-guided munitions designed to minimize collateral damage. Ground forces were strategically positioned to block any escape routes for the terrorists and conducted immediate assessments and follow-up actions post-strike.

After the airstrike, ground troops entered the area to evaluate the impact and confirmed that the hideout had been neutralized, with minimal damage to surrounding villages. The soldiers engaged with local residents, who acknowledged the presence of the Lakurawa terrorists in the vicinity. The operation successfully fulfilled its main objective of neutralizing the terrorist concentration, effectively destroying crucial infrastructure, including arms caches and logistical supplies.

Maj-Gen. Buba reiterated that ISR and HUMINT reports prior to the operation highlighted the target as a high-concentration terrorist location, and assured that troops are committed to taking all necessary precautions to avoid civilian casualties, viewing any loss of innocent life as an unfortunate tragedy. However, he reaffirmed the military’s determination to continue targeting and dislodging terrorists throughout the nation.

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