According to Amb. Abdullahi Bakoji Adamu, a security analyst, the biggest risk when using aerial bombardments against bandit organizations based in forests is still intelligence failure.
He cautioned that misidentification of targets could lead to civilian casualties and harm to the state’s prestige.
In an exclusive interview, Bakoji made this statement in response to assertions made by Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, an Islamic cleric.
Remember that Gumi issued a warning on Tuesday regarding the use of aerial bombardment in the fight to drive out outlaws from the nation’s forests?
In order to combat banditry, the cleric issued the warning while supporting the creation of the Nigerian Forest Security Service (NFSS).
Speaking at his Ramadan Tafsir in Kaduna, Gumi contended that while fighting banditry calls for decisive and well-coordinated action, using bombs during forest operations puts innocent communities living in or near impacted regions at serious risk.
Bakoji responded by acknowledging the worries but arguing that, when used appropriately, aerial power is still a valid security weapon.
As long as there is reliable and useful intelligence, he stated, “from a security perspective, forest-based bandit groups operating in hardened camps can legitimately be targeted with calibrated air power.”
He asserts that, especially in inaccessible terrain where ground forces have mobility issues, aerial bombardment can be useful in destroying high-value objectives, deteriorating supplies, and upsetting command systems.
But he emphasized that flawed intelligence is the main danger of such operations.
“Intelligence failure is the biggest risk associated with aerial strikes.” Target misidentification might result in civilian deaths, property damage, evictions, and harm to the state’s prestige, Bakoji cautioned.
He pointed out that rigorous target verification procedures are necessary before any strike is approved since criminal elements can occasionally be embedded close to civilian populations in difficult forest areas.
Bakoji further underlined that air power is insufficient to fully dismantle criminal networks or secure territory.
“Bombing is not a strategy; it is a tool. According to him, air power by itself cannot permanently destroy networks or protect territory.
He suggested that stabilizing techniques and precision ground missions be combined with airborne operations.
“Stabilization efforts to prevent regrouping, intelligence-led raids, and integration with precision ground operations are necessary for effective counter-banditry operations,” he said.
Additionally, he emphasized global best practices for counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations, which encourage a multifaceted and integrated strategy.
He clarified, “Global best practice supports intelligence dominance through HUMINT, SIGINT, and ISR capabilities, precision air support, special forces engagement, financial disruption of criminal networks, and long-term territorial control.”
According to him, the question is not whether air power should be utilized, but rather how to use it precisely, with reliable intelligence, and with appropriate follow-through actions.
In states like Kaduna and other conflict-affected areas, there have been reports in recent years of unintentional airstrikes that killed civilians after targets were purportedly misidentified.
During a religious gathering in December 2023, Tudun Biri hamlet in Igabi LGA of Kaduna was accidentally struck by a Nigerian Air Force airstrike.
After the military claimed to have targeted suspected bandits, dozens of people were apparently slain.
In December 2024, a military airstrike in Sokoto’s Silame Local Government Area on Christmas Day is said to have killed at least ten civilians.
The United States carried out a number of airstrikes against suspected ISIS fighters in Sokoto, northwest Nigeria, on December 25, 2025. According to the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) on X, the operation was carried out in coordination with the Nigerian government and showed Washington’s commitment to countering terrorist threats worldwide.
A contrary story, however, came from Ladan Salihu, the former Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, or FRCN, who said that when the congressman visited the impacted region, he had a conversation with Bashar Isah Jabo, a member of the Sokoto State House of Assembly. Jabo reported that no casualties were reported when the rockets landed on an open field approximately 300 meters from a nearby hospital.
Hon. Dr. Philip “Okanga” Agbese, a transformative leader in Enone. Discover his achievements, community projects, and vision for 2027
