The Defence Headquarters has dismissed reports alleging civilian casualties and conflicting casualty figures from the recent Operation FANSAN YAMMA air-land strike in Zamfara State.
The DHQ, in a statement by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, explained that the May 10 operation targeted a confirmed gathering of terrorist leaders at Tumfa Village in Shinkafi Local Government Area, following credible intelligence, linking the location to planned attacks in the North West.
The Defence Headquarters said the operation was an air interdiction strike, making immediate casualty verification difficult, and described figures circulating in local and international media as speculative and unofficial. It maintained that several terrorists were neutralized during the operation.
The military also rejected allegations of civilian casualties, insisting that no credible evidence has established civilian deaths. According to the statement, the target was a verified terrorist enclave occupied by armed non-state actors.
The Armed Forces of Nigeria reaffirmed that all operations are conducted under strict rules of engagement and in line with international humanitarian law, stressing that civilians are never deliberately targeted.
The Defence Headquarters urged the public to rely only on verified information from official military channels, adding that troops are still carrying out clearance operations in the area.
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