A Nigerian Air Drive airstrike, meant to neutralise Lakurawa terrorists, marred Christmas celebrations in Sokoto State on Wednesday because it mistakenly hit two communities in Silame Native Authorities Space of the state, killing a number of residents, The PUNCH stories.
That is simply as terrorists attacked a navy base in Borno State with armed drones, injuring 5 members of the troops.
Eyewitnesses’ accounts stated the unintentional bombing in Sokoto claimed the lives of at the least 10 villagers and left a number of others wounded.
The affected communities, Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa, are positioned close to the Surame forest, a identified hideout for the Lakurawa sect and bandits.
A resident of Silame, Malam Yahya, informed our correspondent that the airstrike occurred round 7am on Christmas Day, disrupting what ought to have been a peaceable vacation.
He stated no fewer than 10 villagers had been killed with a number of others sustaining various levels of accidents throughout the airstrike aimed on the terrorists.
The Chairman of Silame Native Authorities Space, Abubakar Daftarana, confirmed the assault and expressed shock on the devastation.
“The villagers had been sitting peacefully when the bombs began dropping on the communities. They had been harmless and peace-loving individuals who had no prison document.
“It’s too early to verify the variety of folks both killed or injured as a result of we’re nonetheless assessing the event,” he stated.
When contacted, the spokesman of the Sokoto State Police Command, ASP Ahmad Rufa’I, declined feedback on the matter, saying it was not their operation.
On its half, the Nigerian Air Drive promised to analyze the fallout of the airstrike.
NAF spokesperson, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, acknowledged that the operation was carried out primarily based on credible intelligence and surveillance.
Nonetheless, Akinboyewa assured that the drive would examine claims of civilian casualties.
“The airstrikes had been carried out primarily based on credible intelligence from a number of sources, together with confirmatory aerial surveillance. However, stories of doable hurt to civilians will likely be totally investigated and we’ll replace you appropriately,” he stated.
Additionally, the Joint Activity Drive North West Operation Fansan Yamma stated navy operations had been carried out primarily based on thorough intelligence and reconnaissance missions.
In an announcement on Wednesday, Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Abdullah, Coordinator, Joint Media Coordination Centre, Operation Fansan Yamma, stated the targets struck within the neighborhood of Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa had been related to the Lakurawa group.
He stated, “Nonetheless, it’s essential to make clear that each one navy operations are carried out primarily based on thorough intelligence and reconnaissance missions.
“This rigorous course of is especially necessary when focusing on teams just like the Lakurawa terrorist organisation, because it goals to make sure precision and shield civilian lives.
“Given the intense nature of those operations, the general public is urged to depend on confirmed data to stop misinformation and pointless panic.
“There’s a important threat that terrorist teams could try to undermine navy successes by media disinformation, necessitating warning regarding unverified claims, particularly within the ongoing battle in opposition to terrorism and banditry.
“Importantly, the targets struck within the neighborhood of Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa have been positively recognized as related to the Lakurawa group, reinforcing the justification for the navy motion taken.”
Borno assaults
The PUNCH learnt on Wednesday that the insurgents launched an assault on Ahead Working Base positioned in Wajiroko space of Damboa Native Authorities in Borno State with a drone round 3pm on Tuesday.
Scores of the troops had been stated to have sustained various levels of accidents at an obligation publish following the assault.
A number of native sources who didn’t need to be recognized, nonetheless, claimed that some troopers could have died within the assault.
“We heard a sound from the bottom and at some extent, smoke was seen within the hair, the best way it regarded, somebody or folks will need to have died within the assault,” a supply claimed.
Whereas the navy is but to verify the assault, efforts to succeed in the spokesman of Operation Hadin Kai, Lt Col. A.Y. Jingina, proved abortive as he neither picked nor returned calls.
Additionally, a sign of the incident sighted by one in all our correspondents confirmed that terrorists launched two assaults on the troops and whereas one was repelled, the opposite led left 5 troopers injured. The sign stated the terrorists, throughout the first assault, used mortars and different firearms however they had been repelled, including that shortly after, the terrorists used a number of armed drones.
It learn, “At roughly 13:00 hours on 23 December 2024, Ahead Working Base Wajiroko in Damboa Native Authorities Space got here underneath assault by suspected terrorists. The attackers initially launched the assault utilizing mortars and different firearms, however troops stationed on the base efficiently repelled the assault, forcing the terrorists to withdraw in disarray.
“Shortly after, at round 13:23 hours, the bottom was focused once more in a coordinated assault utilizing a number of armed drones geared up with domestically fabricated grenades. Observers on the base reported recognizing as much as 4 distinct armed drones throughout the assault.
“5 troopers sustained accidents throughout the drone assault. They obtained first support and are awaiting evacuation to the 25 Brigade Area Ambulance for additional medical consideration. Gear harm included one broken gun truck.
“The final safety scenario within the space is calm however stays extremely unpredictable. Regardless of the assaults, troop morale and fight effectivity are reported to be passable. “
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Buba Edward, couldn’t be reached as of the time of filling this report.
CDS warns locals
In the meantime, the Chief of Defence Employees, Normal Christopher Musa, warned residents in opposition to participating in any type of buying and selling or transaction with terrorists, bandits and different non-state actors.
The CDS, who lamented that some unpatriotic components had been buying and selling with these teams, famous that their actions had been sabotaging the efforts of the navy and different safety companies.
Musa issued the warning on Wednesday after visiting sufferers on the Defence Headquarters Medical Centre as a part of Christmas celebrations, which coincided together with his birthday.
He stated, “I need to additionally name on these few ones that assume they’re earning money by buying and selling with these terrorists and bandits. These terrorists and bandits don’t have any respect for anyone. When you assume you’re buying and selling with them they’re going to come after you. In the event that they don’t come after you, they’ll come after, both your relations – your brother, your sister, your spouse, your husband. So, please no person ought to commerce with these guys.
“If we don’t encourage them, we don’t commerce with them, they won’t survive. That’s the necessary factor we’re saying.”
Musa regretted that terrorism was not nipped within the bud when it started, which, in accordance with him, allowed it to fester to this present day.
He stated, “The errors that had been made previously when this factor (terrorism/banditry) began had been that we didn’t nip it within the bud. We allowed it to get to the place it’s. However thank God all people is placing arms collectively and we’re very blissful Nigerians are warming up. We’re getting a number of help from Nigerians, a number of prayers, a number of data on issues which can be occurring in all places. We should proceed to try this.”
Musa assured that the navy would go away no stone unturned to make sure that Nigeria was peaceable in 2025.
He stated, “I feel since we began to the place we’re right this moment there’s a exceptional enchancment within the safety scenario, and we’re going to take that additional. That’s the reason I stated subsequent yr is defining, which suggests that we’ll do every thing doable to make sure that Nigeria is peaceable.
“We’re going to put each effort to make sure that we proceed to dwell in peace. It’s not one thing that’s computerized, however I do know if we have now the cooperation of Nigerians that’s doable as a result of God is with us all the time. We’re going to be sure that Nigeria is best for everybody. “
COAS visits troops
The Chief of Military Employees, Lieutenant-Normal Olufemi Oluyede, celebrated Christmas with troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
In the course of the celebration on the Theatre Command in Maimalari Cantonment, Oluyede recommended the troops for his or her dedication to the battle in opposition to insurgency within the state.
He praised their efforts in current operations, which led to the deaths and seize of many terrorists in rural communities throughout the state and the North East area.
“Your efforts and success in current operations exhibits your stage of dedication to the battle in opposition to insurgency,” Oluyede stated.
He reiterated the dedication of President Bola Tinubu in the direction of enhancing the capability of the Armed Forces by provision of recent arms, autos and tools to make sure that the battle was delivered to logical conclusion inside the shortest doable time.
The COAS stated the Christmas lunch with the troops, together with wounded troopers, offered a singular alternative to understand the sacrifice, loyalty and camaraderie of the troops within the theatre and different operations throughout the nation.
On his half, the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, recommended the efficient function of the navy in tackling insurgency and pledged sustained help to counter insurgency within the area.
“The state authorities is not going to relent in guaranteeing satisfactory help to the navy in your numerous operations,” Zulum stated.
The governor, who was represented on the event by the Secretary to the Borno State Authorities, Bukar Tijjani, introduced a money help of N2m two to the frontline fighters who sustained accidents.