The Defence Headquarters has denied reports claiming civilians were killed during recent military airstrikes in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
In a statement issued by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, the military said the operation targeted armed bandits based on credible intelligence gathered on May 9, 2026.
According to the statement, the Nigerian Army UAV Command carried out coordinated air interdiction strikes between late May 10 and early May 11 across suspected bandit hideouts in Katerma, Bokko, Kusasu, and Kuduru villages.
The military said intelligence sources confirmed that the strikes accurately hit targeted locations, adding that about 70 bandits were killed in Kusasu village alone.
The Defence Headquarters also revealed that more than 200 armed bandits on motorcycles were seen moving towards nearby communities, allegedly to regroup for possible attacks before the military operation disrupted their plans.
Reacting to viral claims of civilian casualties, the DHQ insisted the strikes were carefully planned and executed strictly against identified terrorist enclaves.
According to the military, residents in the affected communities had relocated before the operation commenced, while post-strike assessments indicated movements in the area involved surviving members of the armed groups rather than civilians.
However, the military stated that relevant authorities had been directed to investigate allegations of civilian casualties, if any.
