The Defence Headquarters has dismissed reports of civilian casualties from air strikes carried out in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, saying the operation killed about 70 bandits.
In a statement on Sunday, Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, said coordinated strikes were conducted between late May 9 and early May 10, 2026, targeting armed bandits in Katerma, Bokko, Kusasu and Kuduru villages.
The operation followed credible intelligence that the criminal elements were converging to plan attacks on communities and government infrastructure, the DHQ said.
According to the military, Nigerian Army UAVs carried out precision strikes on the identified locations. “Further reports from local sources confirmed that the aerial interdiction was precise on target at Kusasu, Katerma and Bokko. It was gathered that about seventy bandits were hit and killed in Kusasu,” the statement read.
DHQ said surviving fighters were later seen evacuating corpses and fleeing towards Zango on over 200 motorcycles. Another group was reportedly spotted converging around Kopa, east of Mongoro, before troops intervened.
On allegations of civilian deaths, the military said residents had voluntarily relocated to Sarkin Pawa before the strikes began.
“It is particularly instructive that, well ahead of the aerial interdiction, all local civilian communities within the general area had, out of an abundance of caution, voluntarily relocated to Sarkin Pawa for their safety,” the statement noted.
DHQ said it had directed relevant formations to verify the allegations and reiterated its commitment to protecting civilians and operating within the rules of engagement.
It also warned against spreading unverified claims, saying such reports risk aiding terrorist propaganda and undermining troop morale.
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