Sokoto bombing: Military accuses villagers of harbouring bandits

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has said that the incidents of civilians harbouring suspected criminals led to the bombing of two villages on Christmas day.

He therefore called on communities to desist from such acts in order to avoid being legitimate targets of the military.

He stated this during his visit to the troops of Operation FASAN YANMA at 8 Division Headquarters in Sokoto.

The CDS was responding to the Christmas day bombing of civilians in two communities in the Silame Local Government by the Nigerian Air Force.

An airstrike, intended to neutralise Lakurawa terrorists, mistakenly hit Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa communities, killing at least 10 villagers and leaving several others wounded.

The governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Sokoto governor, Aminu Tambuwal, have called for an impartial investigation into the incident.

But while speaking to newsmen on the accidental bombing, Musa hinted that the villagers were to blame for allegedly harbouring terrorists, insisting that the military would not take any responsibility for attacks on any community hobnobbing with the militants.

He stated, “I want to call on everyone not to harbour any suspected criminals in their midst, be it Lakurawa or bandits, they should expose them and leave their vicinity.

“The military is not going to take it lightly with any criminals disturbing the peace of the nation, we are dealing with them and we are coming for the rest.

“We have individuals that still harbour them and once you do that you are making yourself a legitimate target. We will appeal, do not harbour them, do not live with them to avoid being a legitimate target.

“Please, do not hang around them, do not give them any support in whatever ways because once you do that, you are making yourself a target.’’

He added, “The incident that happened yesterday was an operation we did, we follow up and we try as much as we can to avoid any mistakes; if there are other mistakes that came up in the operation, we will investigate.

“We did our homework, we have the video of everything that happened and we are going to investigate”

While calling on the media not to give the bandits or other criminal elements much publicity, the CDS said the country would not allow any foreign military base on Nigerian soil.

He called Niger, Chad, Benin and other neighbouring countries to cooperate with Nigeria in dealing with the enemies of peace.

Speaking to the troops of Operation FASAN YAMMA, during the luncheon, he said, “I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to every one of you for your unwavering dedication and sacrifices in ensuring the safety and security of Nigeria, particularly in your deployment to the Joint Task Force Northwest Operation FANSAN YAMMA.

“Despite the inherent challenges, your daily commitment to duty in the field remains a source of inspiration to us all and further exemplifies the true spirit of patriotism required for defeating the threats to our nation’s peace and stability.’’

“The recent deployment of the Special Operations Brigade and some combat enablers to dislodge and eliminate the Lakurawa terrorists from their camps in Sokoto and Kebbi States, and the successes so far achieved is a testament to our commitment to resolving and combating all security threats across the theatres of operations.

“Accordingly, and under my leadership, the Armed Forces of Nigeria will continue to sustain its operational tempo and posture across military deployments both home and abroad,” he reassured.

He encouraged the troops to gear up for the challenges ahead by ensuring victory across all the theatres of operations.

“The coming year presents us with an opportunity to make significant progress in overcoming the challenges confronting our nation.

“Together, we must strive to ensure that the Year 2025 is marked by transformative victories in all our operational theatres, particularly in Operation FANSAN YAMMA,” he noted.

The CDS pledged the necessary support and resources to the troops to carry out their tasks effectively.

Musa later visited the military hospital to check on some troops receiving treatment.

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