The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) clarified on Friday that the deaths of 10 villagers in Sokoto State were caused by a secondary explosion at the Lakurawa terrorist logistics base, not by an airstrike conducted by the Nigerian Air Force.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen. Edward Buba explained that the airstrike was a precision-guided operation targeting the terrorist hideout in the area.

He maintained that the fatalities resulted from the secondary explosion triggered by the destruction of the terrorists’ logistics base.

“The airstrike indeed hit the logistics base of the terrorists, which led to secondary explosions. It was these explosions that caused the casualties reported earlier,” Buba stated.

He further explained that the terrorists’ logistics base housed dangerous materials, including hand cartridges and explosives, which detonated when struck by the Air Force’s precision munitions.

“When I talk of the logistics base, I’m referring to hand cartridges and poles that were kept there. Naturally, when the munition hits, there will be a secondary explosion arising from that, which will generate… you know, other things flying in the air. That led to the death of about 10 persons that were reported. The 10 persons were not hit directly by the airstrikes,” Buba said.

Buba added that intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and human intelligence were carried out over an extended period before the operation was conducted. He also said that the earlier date for the operation had been shifted to prevent human casualties.

“Sustained intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance were conducted over an extended period to confirm the presence of terrorists in the area and to ensure that those present were indeed terrorists. Due to these painstaking measures, the operation, initially scheduled for an earlier date, had to be rescheduled to the 25th, when it was ultimately carried out. The operation was planned as a joint effort, leveraging the air component’s precision strike capabilities and the land component’s advantage of having boots on the ground,” he said.

“This operation began with pre-operational intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions to confirm terrorist activities in the general area. Subsequently, human intelligence was deployed, and their reports corroborated the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance findings, highlighting the strategic importance of neutralising the location. Once confirmed, aircraft were dispatched to conduct precision airstrikes on the identified hideouts at approximately 0600 hours on the specified day.”

Buba said that the ground forces confirmed the destruction of the terrorists’ key infrastructure and the neutralisation of several combatants during the operation, adding that survivors from the group fled the area, leveraging their familiarity with the terrain.

“Locals in the community also confirmed that the terrorists had been using the area as a staging ground for their operations. Intelligence and surveillance reports before the airstrike consistently identified the location as a high-concentration hideout for the Lakurawa group,” he added.

Buba assured that the military would continue its operations to dismantle terrorist networks while minimising harm to civilians and their communities.

“The operation’s primary objective was achieved, and the impact on surrounding villages was minimal,” Buba said.