BY SUNDAY SAMUEL—The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed reports circulating across various media platforms regarding casualty figures from a recent air-land operation conducted in Zamfara State, describing them as misleading and unverified.
In a statement signed by Major General Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, and shared via the official X account of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the DHQ clarified that the operation was carried out on May 10, 2026, by troops of the Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, targeting a confirmed gathering of terrorist leaders at Tumfa Village in Shinkafi Local Government Area.
According to the statement, the location was identified through credible, multi-source human intelligence as a coordination point for planned attacks on communities in the North West region. The DHQ explained that the operation involved an air interdiction strike, noting that such missions do not allow for immediate and precise ground-level casualty counts.
It added that figures currently being circulated in the media, including those attributed to both local and international outlets, are speculative and unverified. The official position of the Armed Forces, the statement stressed, remains that several terrorists were neutralised, based on a Battle Damage Assessment conducted after the strike.
The Defence Headquarters also addressed claims of civilian casualties, stating that no credible or substantiated evidence has been established through official assessments or independent verification. It maintained that the identified target was a known terrorist structure occupied by armed non-state actors posing a direct threat to civilian populations.
The DHQ further urged those making such allegations to rely on verified evidence rather than unconfirmed social media reports or hostile sources, warning against narratives that could undermine ongoing counter-terrorism operations.
Reaffirming its operational standards, the Armed Forces of Nigeria stated that all operations are conducted under strict Rules of Engagement and in line with International Humanitarian Law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution. It emphasized that civilians are never targeted and that measures are consistently taken to avoid civilian harm.
The statement added that ground troops are continuing exploitation and clearance operations in the area, while members of the public are advised to rely only on official communications from the Defence Headquarters for verified updates.
The DHQ also assured that any confirmed incidents involving civilian casualties would be duly communicated in line with directives on transparency and professionalism in military operations.
