The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed reports alleging civilian casualties during an aerial interdiction operation carried out in the early hours of Sunday, 10 May 2026, in Katerma, Bokko, Kusasu, and Kuduru villages of Shiroro Local Government Area, Niger State, insisting that the precision strike targeted armed criminal elements based on credible intelligence.
The Director Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, in a statement, said: “The operations were meticulously planned and executed based on credible, actionable intelligence confirming the convergence of terrorists at those specific locations”.
According to him, 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.
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He noted that 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.
General Onoja stated that post-strike intelligence assessments and verified reports from local sources further confirmed that the aerial interdiction was precise on target, with terrorists subsequently observed gathering the remains of their fallen colleagues for burial, while others, numbering over 200 and mounted on motorcycles, were sighted retreating in the direction of Zango.
He noted that these are not the movements of a civilian population; they are the signature of a degraded but still mobile criminal force.
Nonetheless, relevant military formations have been directed to verify the allegations of civilian casualties, if any.
He stressed that in line with the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s (AFN) mandate to conduct operations to rout out all forms of insecurity in the country, on 9 May 2026, intelligence reports indicated the convergence of armed bandits at Lukupe Village in Shiroro LGA.
Subsequently, on the 10 May 2026 between the hours of 1159pm to 6am, the Nigerian Army UAV Command acting on intelligence conducted multiple air strikes on different bandits locations including Katerma, Bokko, Kusasu and Kuduru Villages all in Shiroro LGA of Niger State.
Further reports from local sources confirmed that the aerial interdiction was precise on target at Kusasu, Katerma and Bokko. See video footage. It was gathered that about Seventy (70) bandits were hit and killed in Kusasu.
Others were sighted gathering the remains of their colleagues for burial while others on about 200 motorcycles moved towards Zango.
Another group from Bokko were also seen advancing towards Zango apparently to meet their colleagues and perfect their next plan of either retreating or attacking Sarkin Pawa or the government/security infrastructure in Kuchi.
Meanwhile, another group were also seen converging at Kopa, East of Mongoro, suggesting a possible plan to attack government/security infrastructure in Mongoro.
The military took necessary steps to neutralise all these threats in a timely manner.
The Armed Forces of Nigeria remains fully committed to the protection of all law-abiding citizens and conducts all operations in strict accordance with the rules of engagement and applicable laws.
The Defence Headquarters urges the media and the public to exercise restraint and avoid amplifying unverified accounts that serve no purpose other than to embolden criminal elements, undermine troop morale, and erode public confidence in ongoing security operations.
