DHQ Denies Civilian Casualties in Zamfara Airstrike

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) of Nigeria dismissed reports alleging civilian casualties following a military airstrike conducted in Zamfara State on May 10, 2026. The operation, carried out by a joint task force in the northwest, targeted a gathering of terrorist leaders in Tumfa Village, Shinkafi Local Government Area.

Major General Michael Onoja, the Director of Defence Media Operations, stated that the mission was based on credible intelligence and aimed at neutralizing high-level terrorist threats. The DHQ indicated that the nature of military operations does not allow for immediate ground-level casualty verification.

They rejected various casualty figures circulating in the media as unverifiable and not representative of the official position of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The DHQ reaffirmed that the targeted location was occupied solely by armed non-state actors posing a threat to civilian lives and emphasized their commitment to conducting operations in compliance with international humanitarian law.