The Nigerian military stated that air operations in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State on May 9 and 10, 2026, targeted armed bandits based on credible intelligence. Major General Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, said the strikes were carried out by the Nigerian Army UAV Command between 11:59 p.m. on May 9 and 6:00 a.m. on May 10 in Katerma, Bokko, Kusasu, and Kuduru villages. The military identified Lukupe Village as the convergence point for the bandits ahead of the operation.
According to the Defence Headquarters, approximately 70 bandits were neutralised in Kusasu during the interdiction. The statement described the targets as hostile elements planning attacks on civilian communities and military assets. It claimed the operations were precise and achieved their intended objectives. Civilian communities in the area had voluntarily relocated to Sarkin Pawa before the strikes, the military added.
Post-strike assessments indicated terrorist casualties, with surviving fighters seen fleeing on motorcycles toward Zango. The military denied targeting civilians and dismissed circulating narratives suggesting otherwise. It directed relevant formations to verify any claims of civilian casualties while maintaining the operation's legitimacy. The public and media were urged to avoid spreading unverified reports.
Residents of Guradnayi, near Kusasu, reported an airstrike in the early hours of Sunday, May 10. Mr. Kasim Abbas said two bombs were dropped—one near the river in Kusasu and another at Guradnayi—damaging several houses. He could not confirm casualties. Niger State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Barrister Maurice Magaji, said he had not received full details, noting such operations are coordinated from Abuja.
The military claims precision targeting of 70 bandits in Kusasu, yet residents report bombs hitting Guradnayi and destroying homes, creating a gap between official narrative and ground experience. If civilians had not relocated, the outcome could have been deadlier for named communities like Guradnayi. The Defence Headquarters has not explained why Guradnayi was struck if it was not a confirmed terrorist enclave. This raises questions about the accuracy of intelligence used to justify the operation.
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