Father Loses Three Children in Niger Airstrike Incident

Victor Solomon, a 50-year-old resident of Guradnayi village near Kusasu in Niger State, reported that three of his children were killed in a military airstrike on a Sunday targeting terrorists in the Shiroro Local Government Area. The airstrike, which took place around 5 AM, left Solomon with severe facial injuries and resulted in the deaths of at least 13 people, including seven children.

Local sources confirmed that the airstrike was intended to target armed bandits but also led to civilian casualties. Mauric Magaji, the Niger State Commissioner for Homeland Security, confirmed the military's actions, stating that the airstrike aimed at terrorist hideouts.

Major General Michael Onoja, the Director of Defence Media Operations, insisted that the operation was based on intelligence reports indicating the convergence of armed bandits and emphasized that no civilians were killed. The military began warning civilians to evacuate the area prior to the airstrike.