Military Clarifies Sokoto Fatalities As Secondary Explosions.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has attributed the deaths of approximately ten individuals in Sokoto State to a “secondary explosion” following military operations in the Silame Local Government Area.
Earlier reports from the Sokoto State Government indicated that ten villagers had died, with several others injured, during the strikes. However, Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, explained during a briefing in Abuja that the fatalities were not caused directly by the military’s air strikes but by subsequent explosions at a terrorist logistics base.
“One of the targets was a logistics base of the terrorists in the community, which housed ammunition caches and supplies. When precision munitions hit such targets, they often cause secondary explosions, resulting in debris and other materials flying through the air. This was the cause of the reported fatalities,” Major General Buba clarified.
He emphasised that the air strikes themselves were precise and targeted the Lakurawa terrorist group, which had been confirmed through human intelligence. “The terrorists directly hit by the air strikes were burned beyond recognition,” he added.
The military operation was described as a coordinated effort between the Air Force and ground forces. After the precision air strikes, ground troops moved into the site and verified that the intended objective had been effectively neutralised.
“The strikes successfully hit their target, which was the Lakurawa terrorist group. Our forces confirmed this after moving onto the site post-strike,” Major General Buba stated.
While expressing regret over the loss of civilian lives, the DHQ maintained that the operation was conducted based on accurate intelligence and aimed at disrupting terrorist activities in the region. Investigations into the incident are ongoing to ensure that such tragedies are minimised in future operations.
This clarification highlights the complexities of military engagements in areas with civilian presence, underscoring the importance of intelligence and precision in counter-terrorism efforts.
