By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed reports alleging civilian casualties during a recent military air-land operation in Zamfara State, describing the figures being circulated across media platforms as speculative and unverified.
In an official signed statement, Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed that the operation was conducted on May 10, 2026, by troops of the Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, targeting what he described as a confirmed gathering of terrorist ring leaders at Tumfa Village in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
According to the statement, the location had been verified through credible multi-source human intelligence as a coordination point for planned attacks against communities in the North West region.
Major General Onoja explained that the operation involved an air interdiction strike, noting that such missions do not permit immediate and precise ground-level casualty enumeration.
He stated that casualty figures currently being reported by some local and international media organisations do not represent the official position of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“The official position remains that several terrorists were neutralized, as confirmed by a Battle Damage Assessment conducted after the strike,” the statement said.
The Defence Headquarters also rejected allegations of civilian casualties being circulated in some quarters, including by certain international human rights organisations.
According to the statement, no credible or substantiated evidence has established that civilians were affected during the operation.
The DHQ maintained that the identified target was a confirmed terrorist structure occupied exclusively by armed non-state actors who posed a direct and active threat to civilian populations.
The military authority urged individuals and organisations making such claims to rely on verified and concrete evidence rather than unconfirmed social media reports or information from adversarial sources.
Major General Onoja reiterated that the Armed Forces of Nigeria operates under strict Rules of Engagement and in compliance with International Humanitarian Law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution in attack.
He stressed that civilians are never deliberate targets of military operations and that all necessary operational measures are taken to minimise the risk of civilian harm.
The statement further disclosed that ground troops are continuing exploitation and clearance operations within the area, while advising members of the public to rely only on verified information released through official Defence Headquarters communication channels.
The DHQ added that any confirmed incidents involving civilian casualties would be communicated appropriately in line with the directive of the Chief of Defence Staff on professionalism and transparency in military operations.
