The Defence Headquarters has insisted that the airstrike on 25 December 2024, was a coordinated joint operation conducted between the Air Component and the Land Component of Sector 2 Operation Fansan Yamma to destroy Lakurawa Terrorists Group (LTG) hideout at Gidan Bisa and Gidan Rutuwa in Jirikon Forest in Silame LGA of Sokoto State and not civilians.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba said this on Friday while briefing Journalists at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on the Christmas day airstrike in Sokoto where 10 civilians were died.
He said the operations confirmed and heightened terrorists activities in the area. "To verify the intelligence, sustained Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions were carried out for over extended periods to confirm presence of the terrorist hibernating there. Indeed, the operation was rescheduled from an earlier date to 25 Dec 24 for further confirmation using Human Intelligence (HUMINT).
"The operation was planned as a joint effort to leverage the Air Component's precision strike capability and the Land Component's ability of having boots on the ground.
"Pre-operation ISR missions confirmed significant terrorist activity within the general area. HUMINT reports corroborated the ISR findings, emphasizing the strategic importance of neutralizing the location.
"The AC conducted a precision airstrike on the identified hideout at about 0600hrs. The strike was executed with precision-guided munitions to minimize collateral damage.
"The Land Component was tactically deployed at blocking positions around the target location to prevent the escape of Lakurawas terrorist as well as to provide immediate post-strike assessment and follow-up actions.
"Following the airstrike, ground forces moved into the area to assess the strike's impact. The ground forces confirmed that the hideout was successfully neutralized, with minimal damage observed in the surrounding village.
The ground forces interacted with the locals who confirmed presence of the Lakurawas terrorist in the general area.
The findings by the ground forces are that:
a. The airstrike achieved its primary objective of neutralizing the LTG hideout.
b. The destruction of key infrastructure used by the LTG, confirming the strike's effectiveness.
c. Surviving LTG fled the area immediately after the airstrike, likely due to their familiarity of the terrain.
d. Locals confirmed that Lakurawa terrorist stay in the village and use the general areas for staging area for conduct of their operation
e. ISR and HUMINT reports prior to the operation consistently indicated the hideout was a high-concentration terrorist location.
f. The airstrike had minor impact on surrounding villages. And, The neutralized LTG were burnt beyond recognition.
h. It is also noted that terrorists are known to blend in with the local populace, complicating efforts to often differentiate friends from foe.
Troops target terrorist and not innocent citizens. We must remember that, War is ugly and horrible in every sense. War is never beautiful and is the worst human endeavour ever.
This is the reason we often come out and explain what we are doing in the field. So doing, we have a better chance to deny the enemy to manipulate things and use it for their purposes or advantage.
Our troops are very professional in their actions and are turning the tide against insurgents and terrorist. Together we can make extra ordinary difference, even as ordinary people.