Amnesty International has called for an independent investigation into reports of civilian deaths following a Nigerian military airstrike in the early hours of Sunday in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State. The human rights group stated that at least six civilians were killed in the Guradnayi settlement near Kusasu during air operations targeting armed groups. According to Amnesty, early community reports indicated the strike hit a residential area around 5 a.m., with several injured residents receiving medical treatment.
The organisation urged Nigerian authorities to conduct a prompt, impartial and transparent probe, make findings public, and ensure accountability for possible breaches of international law. It warned that repeated incidents of civilian casualties in military air operations raise concerns about Nigeria's adherence to international humanitarian principles, including distinction, proportionality and precaution.
Defence Headquarters, however, denied civilian casualties, with Director of Defence Media Operations Michael Onoja stating the strikes targeted bandit enclaves in Kusasu, Katerma, Bokko and Kuduru villages. Onoja said the operation followed intelligence of armed bandits gathering at Lukupe Village on May 9, and that Nigerian Army UAV Command carried out multiple interdiction strikes between 11:59 p.m. and 6 a.m. He claimed about 70 bandits were killed in Kusasu and described the strikes as "precise on target."
Local residents disputed the official account, telling journalists the airstrike hit civilian homes near Kusasu, with one source reporting at least 12 people killed in a single residence. Niger State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Maurice Magaji, said no civilians died, asserting those killed alongside bandits were informants. Amnesty International reiterated the need for medical care, humanitarian assistance and reparations for victims, and called for a review of aerial bombardment protocols.
Amnesty International cites civilian deaths in a military airstrike while Defence Headquarters and Niger State's security commissioner deny any harm to non-combatants, creating a direct contradiction in official versus on-ground accounts. The Nigerian Army claims precision targeting killed 70 bandits, yet residents report 12 dead in a single home in Guradnayi. With conflicting narratives emerging from the same operation, the credibility of the military's version rests on evidence not yet made public. This gap between official statements and community testimony leaves families in Shiroro without clarity or justice.
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