The Chief of Defense Staff, General Christopher Musa, has defended the recent military airstrike in the Sokoto community, describing it as a “carefully executed follow-up operation.”
Speaking during his visit to the troops of Operation Fasan Yanma at the 8 Division Headquarters in Sokoto on Thursday, Musa emphasized the military’s efforts to minimize errors.
“We followed up, and we tried as much as we could to avoid any mistakes. If there were other mistakes that came up in the operation, we would investigate,” General Musa stated. He confirmed that the military has video evidence of the operation and promised a thorough investigation into any unintended outcomes.
Musa also issued a stern warning to civilians, advising them against harboring suspected criminals. “I want to call on everyone not to harbor any suspected criminals in their midst. They should expose them and leave their vicinity,” he said, underlining that those who support or live with criminals would be considered legitimate targets. He further cautioned against providing any form of support to criminal elements, emphasizing that doing so would make individuals targets themselves.
Addressing the media, the General urged not to give undue publicity to bandits or other criminal groups, which could potentially glorify or encourage their actions. He also expressed the military’s stance against allowing any foreign bases on Nigerian soil but called for cooperation from neighboring countries like Niger, Chad, and Benin to combat threats to peace.
In addition to his operational statements, Musa assured the troops of continued support and resources, highlighting that their welfare and that of their families is a top priority. He also took time to visit injured soldiers at a military hospital.
Meanwhile, the Sokoto State government confirmed the tragic outcome of the airstrike, reporting that at least ten people lost their lives in Gidan Bisa village, Silame Local Government Area. According to the Chief Press Secretary’s statement, Governor Ahmed Aliyu, alongside key political figures, attended the funeral prayers for the victims, describing the incident as an unfortunate act of fate.
“It was an operation to eliminate criminal groups, but unfortunately, it led to the bombing of innocent civilians,” the statement noted, acknowledging past successes of military operations against criminals in the area. The governor promised a detailed investigation into the incident to prevent future occurrences and offered prayers for the deceased and their families.
Additionally, the state government announced immediate support measures, including a donation of N20 million and 100 bags of assorted food items to the bereaved families, with commitments to cover the medical expenses of those injured in the strike.
