A security analyst, Amb. Abdullahi Bakoji Adamu, has said that intelligence failure remains the greatest danger in the use of aerial bombardments against forest-based bandit groups.
He warned that misidentification of targets could result in civilian casualties and reputational damage to the state.
Bakoji stated this in an exclusive interview with while reacting to claims by Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi.
Recall that on Tuesday, Gumi cautioned against the use of aerial bombardments in the battle to flush out bandits from forests across the country.
The cleric gave the warning while endorsing the establishment of the Nigerian Forest Security Service (NFSS) to tackle banditry.
Speaking during his Ramadan Tafsir in Kaduna, Gumi argued that although confronting banditry requires firm and coordinated action, deploying bombs in forest operations poses significant risks to innocent communities residing within or around affected areas.
Responding, Bakoji acknowledged the concerns but maintained that aerial power remains a legitimate security tool when properly deployed.
“From a security standpoint, forest-based bandit groups operating in hardened camps can legitimately be targeted with calibrated air power, provided there is credible and actionable intelligence,” he said.
According to him, aerial bombardment can be effective in degrading logistics, neutralizing high-value targets and disrupting command structures, particularly in inaccessible terrain where ground forces face mobility challenges.
However, he stressed that the primary risk of such operations lies in faulty intelligence.
“The biggest risk of aerial strikes is intelligence failure. Misidentification of targets can lead to civilian casualties, property destruction, displacement, and reputational damage to the state,” Bakoji warned.
He noted that in complex forest environments, criminal elements are sometimes embedded near civilian populations, making strict target verification protocols essential before any strike is authorized.
Bakoji further emphasized that air power alone cannot secure territory or dismantle criminal networks permanently.
“Bombing is a tool, not a strategy. Air power alone does not secure territory or dismantle networks permanently,” he said.
He advised that aerial operations must be integrated with precision ground missions and stabilization measures.
“Effective counter-banditry operations require integration with precision ground operations, intelligence-led raids, and stabilization efforts to prevent regrouping,” he stated.
He also highlighted international best practices in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations, which support a combined and multi-layered approach.
“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,” he explained.
“The issue is not whether air power should be used, but how it should be used with precision, credible intelligence and proper follow-through operations,” he said.
In recent years, there have been reports of accidental airstrikes in states such as Kaduna and other conflict-affected areas, where civilians were said to have been killed after targets were allegedly misidentified.
In December 2023, an airstrike by the Nigerian Air Force mistakenly hit Tudun Biri village in Igabi LGA of Kaduna during a religious gathering.
Dozens of civilians were reportedly killed after the military said it had targeted suspected bandits.
Also in December 2024, at least 10 civilians were reportedly killed in a military airstrike carried out on Christmas Day in Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto.
On December 25, 2025, the United States carried out several airstrikes targeting suspected ISIS fighters in Sokoto, north-west Nigeria, with the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) stating on X that the operation was conducted in collaboration with the Nigerian government and demonstrated Washington’s resolve to combat terrorist threats globally.
However, a different account emerged from Ladan Salihu, former Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, who said he spoke with Bashar Isah Jabo, a member of the Sokoto State House of Assembly, after the lawmaker visited the affected area. According to Jabo, the missiles landed on an open field about 300 meters from a local hospital, with no casualties recorded.