Sokoto villagers by accident killed as NAF bombs Lakurawa terrorists

A Nigerian Air Drive airstrike, geared toward neutralizing Lakurawa terrorists, marred Christmas celebrations in Sokoto State on Wednesday, because it mistakenly hit two communities in Silam Native Authorities Space of ​​the state, killing a number of residents, The PUNCH studies.

This comes at a time when terrorists attacked a navy base in Borno State with armed drones, wounding 5 members of the forces.

Eyewitness accounts stated the unintended bombing in Sokoto claimed the lives of not less than 10 villagers and injured a number of others.

The affected communities, Gidan Sama and Romtua, are situated close to Surami Forest, a identified hideout for Lakurawa sect and bandits.

Malam Yahaya, a resident of Silam, advised our correspondent that the airstrike occurred round 7am on Christmas Day, disrupting what ought to have been a peaceable vacation.

He added that not less than 10 villagers had been killed and others had been injured to various levels through the air strike that focused the terrorists.

Chairman of Silam Native Authorities Space, Abubakar Daftarana, confirmed the assault and expressed shock on the devastation.

“The villagers had been sitting peacefully when bombs began falling on the communities. They had been harmless, peace-loving folks with no felony report.

He added: “It’s too early to substantiate the variety of useless and wounded as a result of we’re nonetheless evaluating developments.”

When contacted, spokesman of the Sokoto State Police Command, ASP Ahmed Rufai, refused to touch upon the matter, saying it was not their operation.

For its half, the Nigerian Air Drive promised to analyze the repercussions of the air strike.

NAF spokesperson, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboywa, stated the operation was performed based mostly on dependable intelligence and remark.

Nevertheless, Akinboywa assured that the drive would examine allegations of civilian casualties.

“The airstrikes had been carried out based mostly on dependable intelligence from a number of sources, coupled with confirmed aerial surveillance. Nevertheless, studies of potential hurt to civilians can be totally investigated and we’ll offer you an applicable replace.”

The Joint Process Drive, Operation Vansan Yama, within the northwest, additionally stated that navy operations had been performed based mostly on complete intelligence and reconnaissance missions.

Lieutenant Colonel Abu Bakar Abdullahi, coordinator of the Joint Media Coordination Heart for Operation Vansan Yama, stated in a press release on Wednesday that the targets struck within the neighborhood of Gidan Sama and Romtoa had been linked to the Lakurawa group.

He added: “However you will need to make clear that every one navy operations are carried out based mostly on complete intelligence and reconnaissance missions.

“This rigorous course of is especially necessary when concentrating on teams such because the Lacurawa terrorist group, because it goals to make sure accuracy and shield civilian lives.

“Given the intense nature of those operations, we urge the general public to depend on confirmed info to stop misinformation and pointless panic.

“There’s a vital threat that terrorist teams will try to undermine navy successes by means of disinformation, necessitating warning about unverified claims, particularly within the ongoing combat in opposition to terrorism and banditry.

“It’s important that the targets struck within the neighborhood of Gidan Sama and Romtoa had been positively recognized as being linked to the Lakurawa group, which strengthens the justification for the navy motion taken.”

Borno assaults

PUNCH realized on Wednesday that the insurgents launched an assault on the Ahead Working Base situated in Wajiruku Space of ​​Damboa Native Authorities of Borno State with a drone at round 3pm on Tuesday.

Dozens of troops had been stated to have been injured to various levels at a piece website after the assault.

However a number of native sources, who requested to stay nameless, claimed that some troopers could have died within the assault.

A supply claimed: “We heard a sound from the bottom and in some unspecified time in the future, smoke was seen within the hair, and by the appears to be like of it, an individual or individuals will need to have died within the assault.”

Whereas the navy has but to substantiate the assault, efforts to achieve Operation Haden Kai spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Ai Jingina, had been unsuccessful as he didn’t reply or return calls.

The incident sign seen by one in every of our correspondents additionally confirmed that the terrorists launched two assaults on the forces, and whereas one in every of them was repelled, the opposite resulted in 5 troopers being injured. In the course of the first assault, the terrorists used mortar shells and different firearms however had been repelled, the sign stated, including that shortly after, the terrorists used a number of armed drones.

The assertion learn: “At roughly 1:00 p.m. on 23 December 2024, Ahead Working Base Wajiroko in Damboa Native Authorities Space was attacked by suspected terrorists. The attackers initially launched the assault utilizing mortars and different firearms, however the forces stationed in Al Qaeda efficiently repulsed the assault, forcing the terrorists to withdraw in chaos.

Shortly after, at roughly 1:23 p.m., the bottom was focused once more in a coordinated assault utilizing a number of armed drones geared up with domestically manufactured hand grenades. Observers on the base reported recognizing as much as 4 armed drones through the assault.

5 troopers had been injured through the drone assault. They acquired first assist and are awaiting switch to the twenty fifth Area Ambulance Brigade for additional medical care. Tools injury included a broken weapons truck.

“The general 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 of Protection Media Operations, Main Common Buba Edward, couldn’t be reached on the time of filling this report.

CDS warns native residents

In the meantime, the Chief of Protection Workers, Common Christopher Musa, has warned residents in opposition to partaking in any type of commerce or transactions with terrorists, bandits and different non-state actors.

The CDS, which expressed remorse 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 businesses.

Musa issued the warning on Wednesday after visiting sufferers on the Protection Headquarters Medical Heart as a part of Christmas celebrations that coincided along with his birthday.

“I additionally wish to name out these few who suppose they’re creating wealth by buying and selling with these terrorists and bandits,” he stated. “These terrorists and bandits don’t respect anybody. When you suppose you might be buying and selling with them, they are going to come after you. If they don’t come after you, they are going to come after your family members as effectively.” Your brother, your sister, your spouse, your husband so, please nobody ought to commerce with these males.

If we do not encourage them, we do not commerce with them, they will not survive. “That is the necessary factor we’re saying.”

Musa lamented that terrorism was not nipped within the bud when it started, which, he stated, allowed it to fester to this present day.

He stated: “The errors that had been made prior to now when this factor (terrorism/banditry) began was that we didn’t kill it within the bud. We let her get to the place she is. However thank God everybody put their palms collectively and we’re very glad that Nigerians have warmed up. We’re receiving lots of assist from Nigerians, lots of prayers, and lots of details about issues occurring in every single place. We should proceed to take action.”

Musa assured that the military will spare no effort to make sure that Nigeria enjoys peace in 2025.

He stated: “I imagine that since we began to the place we’re in the present day, there was a noticeable enchancment within the safety scenario, and we’ll go additional. That’s the reason I stated that the approaching 12 months can be essential, which suggests that we’ll do all the things in our energy to make sure that there may be peace in Nigeria.

“We are going to do our greatest to make sure that we proceed to dwell in peace. It isn’t an computerized factor, however I do know that if we get the cooperation of Nigerians, it’s doable as a result of God is all the time with us. We are going to ensure that Nigeria is healthier for everybody.”

COAS visits troops

The Chief of Military Workers, Lieutenant Common Olufemi Oloyede, celebrated Christmas with troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

In the course of the ceremony held on the Theater Command in Maimalari Cantonment, Oloyede counseled the troops for his or her dedication to combating insurgency within the state.

He counseled their efforts in current operations that led to the killing and arrest of a number of terrorists in rural communities throughout the state and the North East area.

“Your efforts and success in current operations show your degree of dedication to combating insurgency,” Oloyede stated.

He reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s dedication to enhancing the capability of the armed forces by means of the availability of contemporary weapons, automobiles and gear to make sure that the struggle reaches a logical finish within the shortest doable time.

The Christmas lunch with troops, together with wounded troopers, supplied a singular alternative to understand the sacrifice, loyalty and camaraderie of troops in theater and different operations throughout the nation, COAS stated.

For his half, Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, praised the efficient position of the military in confronting the insurgency and pledged to offer continued assist to the combat in opposition to insurgency within the area.

“The state authorities won’t hesitate to make sure ample assist to the military in your numerous operations,” Zulum stated.

The Governor, who was represented on the event by Secretary to the Borno State Authorities, Bukar Tijani, introduced money assist of two million naira for frontline fighters who sustained accidents.