The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has clarified that the deaths of 10 civilians in Sokoto State were caused by a secondary explosion, not by military airstrikes during a coordinated assault on Lakurawa terrorists.

The military operation, part of Operation Hadarin Daji, was conducted on 25 December in Gidan Bissah and Gidan Rotuwa within Jikolon Forest. It involved both air and ground forces targeting terrorist hideouts.

Speaking on the incident, Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, refuted allegations that the strikes had mistakenly hit civilians. He explained that intelligence had consistently identified the area as a high-density terrorist location.

“The airstrikes hit the terrorists’ logistics base, triggering secondary explosions. These explosions caused the reported casualties,” Buba stated. “The neutralised terrorists were burnt beyond recognition because they were directly hit.”

Buba noted that the Lakurawa terrorists had blended with the local populace, making it difficult to differentiate between civilians and combatants.
“We are aware of this challenge and take painstaking measures to minimise civilian casualties. However, war is inherently ugly and tragic,” he said.

He expressed condolences to the families of those affected and emphasised the professionalism of Nigerian troops.
“Our operations aim to protect citizens and secure our territorial integrity. Every innocent life lost is a tragedy, but our forces are committed to turning the tide against terrorists,” Buba added.

Addressing concerns over reports that Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) had acquired drones, Buba reassured the public that the devices were not military-grade.
“These are toy drones used to harass civilians. They are ineffective, and measures are being taken to neutralise such threats,” he said during a press briefing in Abuja.

Buba also dismissed claims of foreign military bases in Nigeria, stating, “There is no foreign military base in Nigeria. We will not allow our country to become a ground for proxy wars.”

He urged the public to disregard misleading narratives designed to distract from the military’s efforts to combat insurgency.