Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has firmly denied reports claiming civilian deaths during a recent military airstrike in Zamfara State. The military says the operation successfully neutralised several terrorists, not innocent people.

The strike targeted a confirmed meeting of terrorist leaders in Tumfa Village, Shinkafi Local Government Area. According to the DHQ, post-strike assessment showed that armed non-state actors were hit at the location.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Imo, said casualty figures circulating in the media remain speculative and unverified. He stressed that there is no evidence of civilian casualties from the operation.

“Our official position remains that several terrorists were neutralised,” he said.

The military described the operation as carefully planned and based on credible intelligence. They insist the target was a terrorist structure actively threatening civilian lives in the area.

Zamfara State has faced years of banditry, kidnapping, and attacks by armed groups. Many residents continue to live in fear, with frequent reports of villages being raided and people abducted for ransom.

This latest denial comes amid growing public concern over civilian safety during counter-terrorism operations in the northwest. Some local sources had earlier claimed deaths of non-combatants, but the DHQ dismissed such reports as misleading.

The military has urged the public to avoid spreading unverified information that could affect ongoing operations. They reaffirmed their commitment to protecting civilians while aggressively tackling insecurity in Zamfara and neighbouring states.

Many people in the region hope for better coordination between security forces and communities so that innocent lives are fully protected during such operations. The DHQ says investigations continue and more details will be provided as necessary.

This development reflects the difficult challenge Nigerian forces face in fighting bandits while minimising harm to local populations in troubled areas.