Africa-Press – Nigeria. The Nigerian military has denied reports of civilian casualties resulting from airstrikes targeting sites suspected of being linked to armed gangs in northern Niger State, asserting that the strikes were based on intelligence and specifically targeted the militants’ locations.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense stated that drone airstrikes were carried out overnight between May 9 and 10, targeting the villages of Katerma, Boko, Kosaso, and Kodoro in the Shiroro area, following intelligence indicating a gathering of armed gangs, locally known as bandits, planning attacks.
This denial comes in response to reports in Nigerian media claiming civilian casualties, which highlight long-standing concerns about the impact of airstrikes on local communities in conflict areas in Nigeria.
Nigerian security forces are engaged in battles against bandits in the northwest of the country and an ongoing insurgency in the northeast for the past 17 years.
Last month, around 200 people were killed following an airstrike by military aircraft on a village market while pursuing militants in the northeast, according to local residents.
In the latest airstrikes, the spokesperson reported that at least 70 suspected bandits were killed in Kosaso alone. He added that intelligence following the strike indicated that surviving fighters were regrouping, with over 200 motorcycles seen heading towards the neighboring village of Zango.
The spokesperson stated, “The strikes precisely targeted specific terrorist strongholds and achieved their intended military objectives,” adding that residents had previously moved to another village, reducing the likelihood of civilian presence.
He did not clarify whether civilians had been informed in advance about the airstrikes. The spokesperson mentioned that the military has instructed field units to investigate any claims of civilian damage.
