An airstrike intended for bandits has reportedly resulted in civilian casualties in Shiroro Local Council of Niger State. Reports indicate that over 500 bandits from neighboring Zamfara and Kaduna states were seen gathering in several Shiroro communities. While their exact destination remains unclear, residents of Kuchi, Chibani, and Zagzaga in Munya Local Council, along with other nearby communities, fled their homes in fear.
Reliable sources in the affected areas confirmed the incident. One source stated, "We gathered that the bandits assembled and slept at Kusasu community in Shiroro on Saturday before moving to Chibani en route to Zagzaga. The Air Force responded swiftly, striking Kusasu, and some civilians lost their lives. The number of civilian casualties is yet unknown, and several houses in Kusasu were severely damaged."
Aminu Najume, Chairman of Munya Local Council, suggested the bandits likely entered from neighboring Chukun Local Council in Kaduna. Security forces have been deployed to the area.
However, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) denied reports of civilian deaths, asserting that the operation targeted only armed bandits. In a statement, Director of Defence Media Operations Maj-Gen. Michael Onoja explained that the operation followed intelligence about bandit convergence at Lukupe Village in Shiroro on May 9, 2026. The Nigerian Army UAV Command conducted multiple airstrikes between 11:59 p.m. on May 10 and 6:00 a.m. across suspected hideouts in Katerma, Bokko, Kusasu, and Kuduru. Onoja claimed local intelligence confirmed the strikes were "precise on target" in Kusasu, Katerma, and Bokko, with about 70 bandits killed in Kusasu alone and survivors evacuating bodies.
Niger State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Maurice Magaji, also confirmed the airstrike but insisted that those killed alongside the terrorists were informants, not innocent civilians. "It was a very successful military action. No civilians were killed—only terrorists and their informants. We warned civilians to evacuate before the operation, and they did," he said.
