The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has insisted that there was no mistake in the military airstrikes targeted at the members of the Lakurawa terrorist group in Sokoto on Wednesday.
Gen. Musa, who visited the state on Thursday, while addressing journalists at the Giginya Cantonment Sokoto maintained that those killed were criminals. He, however, said that investigation would be launched into the matter.
The Sokoto State Government had claimed that 10 people were killed on Wednesday when a fighter jet, during air interdiction targeted at Lakurawa terrorists, bombed two communities in the Silame Local Government Area of the state. They averred that those who lost their lives were “innocent citizens”.
The Defence Chief noted that there were individuals among the people that still harbour terrorists. “Once you do that, you make yourself a target. Our appeal is please do not allow them hang around you, do not give them any support in whatever means.”
He maintained that the incident that happened yesterday was an operation conducted by the military. “We followed up and ensured we avoided mistakes as much as possible. If there were other mistakes that came up, we will investigate”.
He said further that from what they had seen, “there were criminals in that place. Anybody that toyed with them was part of them”.
General Musa stated that regardless of the controversy surrounding the airstrikes, the military would continue with its operations and would not relent in fighting criminal elements but would avoid civilian casualties.
“If you are not with them, please leave their area and come out so that it gives us the ability to deal with them decisively”, he said.
He also used the opportunity of his visit to have Christmas lunch with the troops of Operation Fansan Yamma, an operation aimed at ridding the state of bandits.
