The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has denied reports claiming that civilians were killed during a recent military operation in Zamfara State, saying the casualty figures being shared are not verified.
In a statement released on Tuesday in Abuja, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Michael Onoja, said troops of the Joint Task Force under Operation Fansan Yamma carried out the operation on Sunday, May 10.
He explained that the strike targeted what he described as a meeting of terrorist leaders in Tumfa Village, located in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
According to him, intelligence reports confirmed that the location was being used to coordinate attacks on nearby communities.
Onoja said it was difficult to immediately determine the number of casualties because of the nature of the airstrike operation.
“The casualty figures circulating across media platforms remain speculative, unverified and inconsistent with official military assessments,” he said.
“Our official position remains that several terrorists were neutralised after post-strike battle damage assessment.”
He also dismissed claims that civilians were affected during the operation, insisting that military findings has not shown any evidence of civilian casualties.
“The target remained a confirmed terrorist structure occupied by armed non-state actors threatening civilian lives,” he said.
“Those making such claims should rely on verified evidence, not social media reports or adversarial sources.”
Onoja added that the Nigerian Armed Forces will continue to follow strict operational rules and international humanitarian laws during military operations.
“Civilians are never deliberately targeted during operations,” he stressed.
He said troops were still carrying out clearance operations in the area and urged the public to depend on official channels for accurate information.
The military spokesman also assured that if any civilian casualty is confirmed, the information would be made public through established military procedures.
He reaffirmed the military’s commitment to professionalism, accountability and the protection of civilians during ongoing operations.