The Nigerian military has warned that terrorist groups may exploit the recent airstrike in Silame Local Government Area (LGA)of Sokoto State to undermine its successes in the fight against terrorism and banditry.
The Guardian reports that no fewer than 10 people were killed, with several injured, in military airstrikes in the early hours of Wednesday.
The military said the reports about the incident have raised concerns.
The Joint Task Force North West, under Operation Fansan Yamma, disclosed this in a statement by its spokesperson, Abubakar Abdullahi, on Thursday.
The military said that terrorist groups might attempt to exploit the incident to discredit ongoing military operations against criminal elements.
It, however, noted that it is crucial to clarify that all military operations are conducted based on thorough intelligence and reconnaissance missions.
“This rigorous process is particularly important when targeting groups like the Lakurawa terrorist organisation, as it aims to ensure precision and protect civilian lives.”
The military also urged the public to rely on confirmed information to prevent misinformation and unnecessary panic due to the “serious nature of these operations.”
“There is a significant risk that terrorist groups may attempt to undermine military successes through media disinformation, necessitating caution concerning unverified claims, especially in the ongoing fight against terrorism and banditry,” it warned.
“Importantly, the targets struck in the vicinity of Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa have been positively identified as associated with the Lakurawa group, reinforcing the justification for the military action taken.”
Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State visited the affected communities to sympathise with the victims on Wednesday.
While attending funeral prayers for the deceased, Aliyu described the incident as a “mistake” and pledged ₦20 million in financial support for the affected families.
“The military jets were on their mission to eliminate criminal armed groups terrorising the state and mistakenly bombed innocent people of this community,” Aliyu said.
“We consider this as a mistake because the same military had on several occasions successfully raided so many criminal hideouts in the state.”
