The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has assured that the military conducts airstrikes with precision. He said civilians are never deliberately targeted.
Musa spoke on Monday during an interview on Arise News. He addressed concerns over the recent airstrike in Zamfara that killed 16 civilians.
“We follow strict protocols before airstrikes. We also track movements to ensure precision,” he said.
Musa explained that secondary explosions from weapons stored by insurgents could harm civilians.
“Insurgents hide bombs and ammunition. When these explode, civilians might get affected. But we avoid targeting them,” he added.
He also criticized the timing of such allegations. He said they often surface when the military is making progress.
Musa revealed a disturbing strategy used by terrorists. He said they now impregnate women to raise new fighters.
“Over 120,000 terrorists have surrendered. Among them, 60,000 are children. These children are raised in violence and see it as normal,” Musa said.
He warned that this could create a more dangerous generation if left unchecked.
Musa stated that the government is tracking terrorist funding. He said international agencies like the UN and EU are helping.
“Terrorists fund themselves through kidnapping, taxes, and levies. Cutting off these funds is key to stopping them,” he said.
Musa announced plans to sue Reuters over its report on forced abortions in the military. He said the National Human Rights Commission cleared the military of any wrongdoing.
“Reuters refused to apologize after the investigation. We will not allow anyone to malign our troops,” Musa said.
He urged Nigerians to support the military. He also promised that the fight against terrorism will continue.