The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, during a visit to Sokoto State, warned civilians harbouring suspected criminals to stop or face the consequences of their actions.
Musa stated this during his visit to the troops of Operation FASAN YANMA at 8 Division Headquarters in Sokoto.
The CDS stated this in response to the Christmas Day bombing of civilians in two communities in the Silame Local Government by the Nigerian Air Force.
Chronicle NG reports that an airstrike, intended to neutralise Lakurawa terrorists, mistakenly hit Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa communities, killing at least 10 villagers and leaving several others wounded.
Sokoto State Governor Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and ex-Sokoto governor Aminu Tambuwal have called for an impartial investigation into the incident.
However, Musa, speaking to journalists about the accidental bombing, suggested that the villagers were to blame for allegedly harbouring terrorists.
He also stated that the military would not take responsibility for attacks on any community hosting 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 urging the media not to give bandits or other criminal groups too much attention, the CDS stated that the country would not allow any foreign military base on Nigerian land.
He urged Niger, Chad, Benin, and other bordering countries to join Nigeria in combating the enemies of peace.
During the luncheon, he addressed the troops of Operation FASAN YAMMA, saying, “I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for your unwavering dedication and sacrifices in ensuring Nigeria’s safety and security, particularly 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 at home and abroad,” he reassured.
He urged 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.
Meanwhile, Aliyu has visited the Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa settlements to examine the damage and express his sympathies to the victims’ families.
The governor announced a donation of N20 million and 100 bags of various food items to the bereaved relatives.
