The Nigerian military has confirmed the killing of dozens of suspected terrorists during a coordinated airstrike operation carried out in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
According to the Defence Headquarters, the operation, conducted between the late hours of May 9 and the early morning of May 10, 2026, targeted armed bandits and suspected collaborators gathered in Lukupe Village and surrounding communities within Shiroro LGA.
Military authorities disclosed that the Nigerian Army UAV Command executed precision airstrikes on Katerma, Bokko, Kusasu, and Kuduru villages following intelligence reports indicating that heavily armed groups were planning attacks on nearby communities and security formations.
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Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, said intelligence gathered before the operation confirmed the presence of terrorists at the targeted locations.
He stated that approximately 70 suspected bandits were neutralised in Kusasu alone, while several others reportedly fled the area on motorcycles toward Zango after the strikes.
The military further described the operation as successful, noting that post-strike assessments from local sources indicated the attacks were “precise and on target” in Kusasu, Katerma, and Bokko communities.
Niger State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Maurice Magaji, also confirmed the operation, describing it as a major success against criminal elements terrorising the area.
Magaji maintained that no innocent civilian was affected during the strike, insisting that residents had been warned to evacuate the affected locations before the military action commenced.
According to him, individuals who remained in the targeted areas were believed to be either terrorists or informants aiding their activities.
However, conflicting accounts have emerged from residents of Kusasu and nearby Guradnayi settlement, who claimed that at least 12 persons were killed in a residential building during the operation.
Some eyewitnesses alleged that the incident occurred around 5 a.m. while military aircraft were pursuing armed men fleeing on motorcycles.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International has raised concerns over the reported civilian casualties and called for an independent investigation into the operation, citing recurring allegations of civilian deaths linked to military air raids in conflict-prone regions.
In response, the Defence Headquarters stated that residents of neighbouring communities had earlier relocated to Sarkin Pawa ahead of the operation, a development it said contradicted claims that civilians were present at the strike locations.
The military added that relevant authorities had been directed to investigate the allegations surrounding possible civilian casualties.
Shiroro Local Government Area has remained one of the major flashpoints of banditry and terrorist activities in Niger State, with armed groups frequently launching attacks from neighbouring Zamfara and Kaduna states.
Security forces have intensified both ground and aerial offensives across the region in recent months as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle terrorist networks and restore stability in affected communities.
The Armed Forces reiterated their commitment to sustaining operations against criminal groups, assuring Nigerians that military offensives would continue with “precision, professionalism, and resolve” to safeguard national security.
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