The Defence Headquarters has stated that the drone attack on Ligarma community in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Sunday was conducted based on information about the suspicious activities of terrorists in the region. This information was conveyed in a statement by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, released on Tuesday in Abuja.

Maj.-Gen. Buba highlighted that the Nigerian Army Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) detachment, at approximately 2200hrs on Sunday, detected the movement of terrorists in Ligarma, a known terrorist-infested area in Kaduna State. Aerial surveillance revealed the presence of groups employing tactics and methods synonymous with terrorist activities.

The Director further clarified that the observed advancement of the gathered terrorists posed a significant threat to critical infrastructure within the vicinity. He emphasized that the preemptive strike was executed to eliminate the threat and prevent the terrorists from inflicting harm on innocent civilians.

“It should be noted that terrorists often deliberately embed themselves within civilian population centres for civilian population to bear the consequences of their atrocities.

“Nevertheless, the Nigerian military does its best at all times to distinguish between civilians and terrorists.

“The military views every civilian death in the cause of operations as a tragedy, as such tragedies are needless and unwanted, which causes the armed forces to take extensive measures to avoid them,” he said.

According to him, one such measure taken by the military is to continually give precise instructions to communities.

“For instance, communities are to always alert troops of their activities, particularly when such a community is known to be infested with terrorists and their sympathisers.

“These instructions are intended at enabling the military distinguish between friendly and untoward activities,” he said.

Buba said the armed forces would continue to operate in line with international laws and would also continue their determined and cautious progress in eradicating terrorists from the land.

He mentioned that terrorists frequently adopt the guise of civilians as a tactic to carry out acts of terror. Additionally, he affirmed that the military is committed to devising creative solutions to address the challenges encountered during its operations.