By Chimezie Godfrey
The Defence Headquarters has denied reports alleging civilian casualties in the recent military air-land operation carried out in Zamfara State by troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA.
The military described casualty figures currently circulating on media platforms as speculative, misleading and unverified.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Michael Onoja, the Defence Headquarters said the operation targeted a gathering of terrorist leaders at Tumfa Village in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State on May 10, 2026.
According to the statement, the target location was identified through credible multi-source intelligence as a coordination point for planned terrorist attacks against communities in the North-West.
The military explained that the operation was an air interdiction strike and did not permit immediate and precise ground-level casualty enumeration.
“The varying figures presently in circulation, including those attributed to international and local media outlets, are speculative, unverified, and do not represent the official position of the Armed Forces of Nigeria,” the statement read.
The Defence Headquarters stated that official Battle Damage Assessment reports confirmed that several terrorists were neutralised during the strike.
The military also dismissed allegations of civilian casualties being circulated by some groups and organisations, insisting that no credible evidence had established such claims.
“No credible, substantiated evidence of civilian casualties has been established through any official assessment or independent verification,” the statement added.
According to DHQ, the targeted structure was occupied solely by armed non-state actors posing direct threats to civilian populations.
The military warned against reliance on unverified social media narratives and adversarial sources, stating that such reports could undermine ongoing counter-terrorism operations.
The statement further noted that the Armed Forces of Nigeria conducts operations under strict Rules of Engagement and in compliance with International Humanitarian Law principles.
“Civilians are never targets, and every operational measure is taken to prevent civilian harm,” DHQ stated.
The military disclosed that exploitation and clearance operations were ongoing in the affected area and urged the public to rely only on official Defence Headquarters communication channels for verified information.
It added that any confirmed civilian casualty incidents would be communicated appropriately in line with military operational transparency guidelines.
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