The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has clarified the circumstances surrounding the recent deaths of villagers during airstrikes in Sokoto State, attributing the casualties to "secondary explosions" rather than direct impacts from military operations.
This explanation follows reports from the Sokoto State government, which revealed that 10 villagers lost their lives, and several others sustained injuries during airstrikes in the Silame Local Government Area earlier this week.
Speaking on the matter, Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, stated that the unfortunate deaths and injuries resulted from secondary explosions triggered during the airstrikes. “It was not the airstrikes themselves that caused these fatalities,” Buba said, refraining from further elaboration.
The incident has raised concerns and calls for greater precision and caution during military operations, especially in regions with civilian populations.
As more details are awaited, the DHQ is expected to provide additional clarifications and measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
This development has also reignited debates over the balance between military effectiveness and civilian safety in conflict zones.