Several civilians have reportedly lost their lives following a military airstrike in Guradnayi, a community near Kusasu in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
The incident was said to have occurred on Sunday morning, May 10, 2026, during an operation targeting armed bandits allegedly moving through parts of the state.
According to local sources, more than 500 suspected bandits were seen around several communities after reportedly entering the area from neighbouring Zamfara State and Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State.
Residents of Kuchi, Chibani, Zagzaga, and nearby communities in Munya Local Government Area reportedly fled their homes after noticing the movement of the armed groups.
Sources within the affected communities confirmed that the airstrike occurred while security forces attempted to engage the bandits.
One resident stated that the bandits had camped overnight in Kusasu community on Saturday before moving toward Chibani on their way to Zagzaga.
According to the source, the Nigerian Air Force responded swiftly by launching an operation in the area. However, while targeting the suspected bandits, some civilians were reportedly caught in the attack.
The exact number of casualties has not yet been confirmed.
Another resident said several houses in Kusasu were damaged during the airstrike, contributing to the civilian casualties recorded in the community.
A separate source also confirmed that the bandits moved from village to village after spending the night in Kusasu. The source added that although no abductions were reported, residents feared the armed men may have been targeting communities with large numbers of cattle.
Chairman of Munya Local Government Area, Aminu Najume, said the attackers likely entered through Chukun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, which borders Munya.
He explained that the bandits reportedly arrived in three separate groups through different entry points, including Igwu-Suka Chire, Katerma, and Jeso communities.
According to him, the armed groups were believed to number over 500, forcing many residents to flee their homes over fears of attacks and cattle rustling.
Security personnel have reportedly been deployed to the affected communities to contain the situation.
Shiroro Local Government Area has witnessed similar incidents in the past involving accidental airstrikes. In 2022, reports indicated that a Nigerian Air Force jet mistakenly killed six minors in Kurebe village. Months later, another airstrike reportedly claimed the lives of eight civilians in the same area.
The Nigerian Air Force had previously disputed some of the casualty reports linked to those incidents.
