The Nigerian military has confirmed the killing of approximately 70 armed bandits during a major overnight air operation conducted in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, while firmly rejecting reports of civilian casualties. According to official statements and media reports, the operation took place between the night of May 9 and the early hours of May 10.
Authorities said the strikes were carried out using unmanned aerial systems following intelligence indicating a large gathering of armed groups in parts of the area, which remains one of the regions most affected by persistent violence in north-central Nigeria. The operation forms part of ongoing efforts to target armed groups operating in rural and forested zones.
Military sources stated that the air strikes targeted multiple communities, including Katerma, Bokko, Kusasu, and Kuduru, with operations conducted overnight and continuing into the morning. A senior officer confirmed that at least 70 fighters were killed in Kusasu village alone, noting that the operation relied on precise tracking of militant movements.
Officials added that intelligence had identified a significant concentration of armed fighters in one village prior to the strike, prompting a coordinated aerial assault aimed at dismantling their positions and preventing planned attacks. Post-strike assessments indicated that surviving fighters were seen evacuating bodies, while additional movements of hundreds of armed individuals on motorcycles were observed as they attempted to regroup.
The operation sparked controversy after local reports suggested that civilians may have been among those killed, but the military issued a formal denial, stating that no civilians were harmed. Authorities emphasized that the operation was carefully planned based on reliable intelligence and targeted only identified militant locations.
The military spokesperson said battlefield assessments and surveillance confirmed that all targets struck were associated with armed groups, stressing that the operation was precise and achieved its intended objectives.
Shiroro has become one of the most volatile security flashpoints in Nigeria, with repeated attacks targeting villages, transport routes, mining areas, and energy infrastructure. The area has also seen increasing links between bandit groups and extremist elements connected to broader insurgent networks.
In recent months, Nigerian forces have intensified both aerial and ground operations targeting forest-based camps across several states in an effort to reduce militant activity and restore control.
Analysts say the latest operation reflects an increasing reliance on aerial surveillance and precision strikes to track and disrupt armed groups, particularly in remote terrain where ground access is difficult. However, local communities continue to face displacement, kidnappings, and recurring attacks, highlighting the ongoing security challenges in the region.
