Sokoto airstrike precise, justified, says Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff
The recent airstrike conducted in Sokoto State, Nigeria, targeting the Lakurawa terrorist group has been described by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, as both precise and justified.
The CDS warned villagers against harbouring terrorists under whatever guise, adding that they do not mean well for the country and must not be allowed to destabilise the nation.
On Christmas Day, a fighter jet executed an airstrike on two communities in the Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto.
The operation was intended to eliminate suspected terrorists associated with the Lakurawa group. General Musa emphasized that there was no mistake in this operation, asserting that it was based on thorough intelligence and reconnaissance missions designed to ensure precision in targeting.
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While the military maintains that the airstrikes were aimed at confirmed terrorist locations, local government officials have reported civilian casualties, claiming that ten civilians were mistakenly killed during the bombing.
In response to these claims, General Musa acknowledged the possibility of errors but reiterated that individuals harboring terrorists make themselves legitimate targets. He urged communities to distance themselves from any suspected terrorists to avoid being caught in military operations.
Speaking at the 8 Division, Nigeria Army Barracks, Sokoto Thursday at a lunch with troops of Operation FASAN YAMMA, the CDS reassured that troops will intensify attacks on enemies of the country until they are entirely routed out and defeated.
“From now on and entering 2025, we will give in more. We are going to sacrifice more. We are going to attack more. We will not allow any criminal, whether terrorists, insurgents, bandits, armed robbers, sea pirates or whoever, to destabilise the country. Anybody who crosses the line must face the music”, the CDS warned.
While appreciating troops for their continued sacrifices, the CDS said the recent deployment of the Special Operations Brigade and some combat enablers have aided in eliminating and dislodging the emerging Lakuawa terrorists from their camps in Sokoto and Kebbi states.
He further assured that the Armed Forces under his leadership would continue to sustain its operational temple and posture across military deployments, both at home and abroad.
To the troops, the CDS said, ‘’Looking ahead, I urge you all to remain steadfast and resolute in your responsibilities. The coming year presents us with an opportunity to make significant progress in overcoming our dear nation’s challenges.
‘’And I want to tell all of us that we will ensure we are steadfast in our approach. We are going to be very robust in our operations.
‘’We appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu because he has approved a lot of enablers so that we can perform our tasks. We will not relent, and all those supporting enemies of the country should be ready. We’ve already started our operations. We’re going to commence and intensify our operations. We want to ensure that nobody is allowed to take any Nigerian hostage wherever he is in the country. It is our duty and task to ensure that every Nigerian can perform his duty freely.
“Together, we must strive to ensure that 2025 is marked by transformative victories in all our operational theatres. Nigerians are all praying for us. Nigerians are all happy with what we are doing and need to do more.
“We will secure the sovereignty of Nigeria and make sure that no elements, no criminal, are allowed to move freely within our territory. I also want to use this to extend our message to our neighbours, Niger Republic, Chad, Cameroon, Benin Republic and Togo, to assure them that Nigeria will not allow anybody, any criminal element, to use its soil to attack any of our neighbouring countries, because we are the same’’.
The CDS also clarifies that the nation will not allow the establishment of any foreign base as the security agencies have the capacity and capability to tackle its challenges.
“’The only thing we can do is train together, and that is it. We send our officers and soldiers training abroad. They equally send their own to come here for training. They can come here, and we do joint exercises, but no foreign base will be allowed in Nigeria”.
