The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has downplayed reports of terrorists using drones to attack some parts of the country, describing them as “toys” and not “effective”.

There were reports of terrorists attacking military bases with drones recently which led to injuries to some soldiers.

But the Director of Defence Media Operation, Major General Edward Buba, has called for calm over the development.

According to him, the incidents pose little or no threats to the country’s security.

“These drones are not professional or military-grade drones; they are mere toys. These are toys that they went to buy and found a way to put one or two things on board and use them,” Buba said during a press briefing at the DHQ in Abuja on Friday.

“They are not effective. Their use is more about harassment than any strategic or effective attack.”

The DHQ spokesman labelled the incidents as “harassment” but assured of the military’s readiness to “mitigate their effects”.

“We are in a war against terrorists and insurgents, similar to what you see globally in conflict zones like Ukraine and Israel. The use of drones is not new in modern warfare,” Buba added.

“Since we now know that this is where their thinking and their thoughts are going, we have to take measures to control such attacks. I don’t call them really attacks; I call them harassment. We are prepared and have measures in place to mitigate their effects.”

‘Secondary Explosions’

The scene of the bombing in Sokoto State.

The briefing came in the wake of military airstrikes in Sokoto. The state government said about 10 villagers died owing to the action.

However, Buba said the airstrikes were targeted at Lakurawa terrorists and not civilians as some are suggesting.

“Now, I spoke about secondary explosions. Because one of the targets was a logistic base of the terrorists in the community. When I talk of a logistics base, I’m talking of armed caches and poles that were kept there,” he said.

“So, naturally, when the munition hits, there will be a secondary explosion arising from that which will generate other things flying in the air which was what led to the death of about 10 persons that was reported. The 10 persons reported were not hit directly by the air strikes. Advertisement “The people who were hit directly by the air strikes were the Lakurawa terrorist groups, and they were burned beyond recognition.”