The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed reports alleging civilian casualties during a recent military operation conducted in Zamfara State, describing the circulating figures as misleading, speculative, and unverified.
In a statement released on Tuesday by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, the DHQ clarified that the operation was carried out on 10 May 2026 by troops of the Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, targeting a high-level gathering of terrorist leaders at Tumfa Village in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
According to the statement, the location had been confirmed through credible multi-source human intelligence as a coordination hub for planned terrorist attacks against communities in the North West region.
The military explained that the mission involved an air interdiction strike, noting that such operations do not allow for immediate or precise ground-level casualty assessments. It stressed that casualty figures currently circulating in both local and international media 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 reportedly raised in some quarters, including by certain international human rights organisations. It maintained that no credible or independently verified evidence has established that civilians were affected during the operation.
According to the DHQ, the target location was identified as a terrorist enclave occupied solely by armed non-state actors posing a direct threat to civilian populations.
The military urged individuals and organisations making such claims to rely on verified evidence rather than unconfirmed social media reports or information from sources seeking to undermine ongoing counter-terrorism efforts.
Reaffirming its commitment to professionalism, the Armed Forces of Nigeria stated that all operations are conducted under strict Rules of Engagement and in compliance with International Humanitarian Law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution.
The statement emphasized that civilians are never deliberately targeted and that all necessary measures are taken to avoid civilian harm during operations.
Meanwhile, ground troops are continuing exploitation and clearance operations in the area. The Defence Headquarters advised the public to rely only on verified information released through official military communication channels.
It added that any confirmed incidents involving civilian casualties would be communicated transparently in line with directives from the Chief of Defence Staff on professionalism and accountability in military operations.