“70 Bandits Killed in Shiroro Airstrikes, No Civilian Casualties” – DHQ
By Jerry Adesewo
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed reports alleging civilian casualties during recent military airstrikes in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, insisting that the operation successfully neutralised about 70 armed bandits.
According to the military, the coordinated aerial interdiction targeted known bandit hideouts in Katerma, Bokko, Kusasu, and Kuduru villages following intelligence reports indicating the movement and convergence of armed criminal groups in the area.
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Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, said the Nigerian Army UAV Command conducted the strikes between late Saturday night and early Sunday morning after receiving what the military described as “credible and actionable intelligence” on planned attacks against nearby communities and security formations.
The DHQ maintained that the strikes were “precise on target,” particularly in Kusasu village, where about 70 bandits were reportedly killed. Military authorities said post-strike intelligence showed surviving fighters evacuating bodies for burial while other armed elements retreated on motorcycles towards nearby locations, including Zango and Kopa.
The military also argued that reports of civilian casualties were inconsistent with intelligence indicating that residents in the affected communities had relocated to safer areas, including Sarkin Pawa, before the operation commenced.
However, despite the DHQ’s categorical denial, some local sources and media reports have continued to raise concerns over possible civilian impact. Reports from residents quoted by some publications alleged that non-combatants may have been affected during the operation, although the exact figures remain disputed and unverified.
The military acknowledged the allegations but said relevant formations had been directed to investigate any claims of collateral damage. It reiterated that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain committed to protecting civilians and conducting operations within established rules of engagement and international humanitarian standards.
Shiroro has emerged in recent years as one of the most volatile security flashpoints in Niger State, with armed bandit groups operating across forest corridors and rural settlements. The area has witnessed repeated attacks on communities, mining routes, and security formations, prompting sustained military offensives involving both air and ground operations.
The latest operation also comes against the backdrop of heightened scrutiny over military airstrikes in Nigeria following previous incidents in which civilians were accidentally killed during counterterrorism operations, including the 2023 Tudun Biri drone strike in Kaduna State and other reported cases in Sokoto and Yobe States.
Against that backdrop, the Shiroro operation once again highlights the difficult balance confronting Nigeria’s security forces: the need for aggressive action against heavily armed criminal groups while maintaining public trust and minimizing civilian harm.
The DHQ urged the media and the public to avoid spreading unverified reports capable of undermining troop morale or emboldening criminal elements, insisting that ongoing military operations would continue “with precision, professionalism and resolve.”