The Nigerian military has defended recent air operations carried out in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, insisting the strikes targeted armed bandits following allegations from residents that civilians may have been affected.
In a statement issued by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Michael Onoja, the Defence Headquarters said the operations were conducted based on intelligence reports indicating that armed groups had gathered at Lukupe Village on May 9, 2026.
According to the military, the Nigerian Army UAV Command carried out coordinated air interdiction missions between 11:59pm on May 9 and 6:00am on May 10 across several locations, including Katerma, Bokko, Kusasu and Kuduru villages in Shiroro LGA.
“The operations were meticulously planned and executed based on credible, actionable intelligence confirming the convergence of terrorists at those specific locations,” the statement said.
The Defence Headquarters maintained that the strikes were directed at identified bandit hideouts and claimed the operation successfully neutralised a large number of fighters.
“Contrary to the narrative being circulated, the strikes were precisely targeted at identified terrorist enclaves and achieved their intended military objectives, neutralizing approximately seventy armed bandits in Kusasu alone,” the statement added.
“These are armed groups who had been tracked and confirmed as hostile elements actively planning attacks on civilian communities and military assets in the area.”
Military authorities also stated that residents in nearby communities had reportedly relocated to Sarkin Pawa before the operation for safety reasons, arguing that this reduced the likelihood of civilian presence in the targeted areas.
According to the Defence Headquarters, post strike surveillance indicated that surviving fighters fled the area on motorcycles toward Zango after the bombardment.
The clarification followed allegations by residents of Guradnayi community, located near Kusasu, who claimed an airstrike struck residential areas in the early hours of Sunday, May 10.
One resident, identified as Kasim Abbas, alleged that homes were damaged during the incident, though he said the number of casualties could not immediately be confirmed. “The military first dropped a bomb near the river in Kusasu, while the second bomb was dropped at Guradnayi,” Abbas claimed.
Niger State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Maurice Magaji, said he had not yet received complete details regarding the reported incident, noting that such military operations are typically coordinated from Abuja.
The Defence Headquarters said military formations had been directed to verify any allegations involving civilian casualties while reiterating that the operation achieved its objective of targeting armed bandits in the region.
Authorities also urged the public and media organisations to avoid circulating unverified information, stressing that ongoing security operations are aimed at restoring stability and protecting communities affected by banditry.
