The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has vehemently defended the Nigerian military’s operations, stating that airstrikes are carried out with utmost precision and that civilians are never intentionally targeted. Musa’s comments come in response to recent allegations regarding the accidental killing of 16 civilians in Zamfara during an airstrike on Saturday.
In an exclusive interview with Arise News on Monday, General Musa explained that the military follows strict protocols before launching any airstrike, including surveillance of movements to ensure accuracy. He acknowledged the possibility of secondary explosions in areas where insurgents store weapons, which may inadvertently affect surrounding civilians.
“We do not deliberately target the civilian population,” Musa emphasized. “We have videos that we follow up on before any strike is conducted.”
The CDS further questioned the timing of these accusations, suggesting they were tactics aimed at demoralizing the military, especially during periods of success in combatting insurgency. He raised concerns over the frequent reports of “accidental airstrikes” coinciding with military progress and urged communities to cooperate with investigations rather than jumping to conclusions.
In another striking revelation, Musa shed light on a disturbing new strategy employed by terrorists. He disclosed that insurgents have begun systematically impregnating women, creating a new generation of fighters in the absence of territorial control. “Out of over 120,000 terrorists who surrendered, over 60,000 were children,” he noted, expressing concern that these children, raised in violent environments, could grow up to perpetuate even more brutal acts than their parents.
The CDS also highlighted efforts to curb terrorism financing, revealing that the Nigerian government is collaborating with international organizations such as the United Nations and European Union to trace the sources of funds that fuel terrorist activities. Musa described the funding networks as “dangerous and high-value,” involving both local and international channels, including taxes, levies, and kidnapping.
In a related development, General Musa announced that the military is preparing legal action against Reuters over its controversial report alleging that the Nigerian military orchestrated forced terminations of pregnancies among women impregnated by insurgents. The National Human Rights Commission had exonerated the military in its investigation of the claims. However, Musa expressed his disappointment at Reuters’ refusal to retract or apologize for the article, emphasizing that such baseless allegations are intended to undermine Nigeria’s military efforts.
“After one and a half years of investigation, it was found that it was a complete lie,” Musa said. “We will not allow anyone to demoralize our troops or malign the country.”
The Defence Chief called for national unity in supporting the military’s fight against terrorism, asserting that external efforts to discredit the armed forces would not succeed.
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