Operation FANSAN YAMMA: Military Rejects Conflicting Casualty Claims

The Defence Headquarters has refuted reports alleging civilian casualties and conflicting death tolls following the recent Operation FANSAN YAMMA carried out in Zamfara State.

In a statement issued in Abuja, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, described the casualty figures being circulated in some sections of the media as misleading, speculative, and unverified.
According to the statement, the operation conducted on May 10 targeted a confirmed meeting of terrorist leaders at Tumfa Village in Shinkafi Local Government Area after receiving credible intelligence.
The military explained that the mission involved an air interdiction strike, which made immediate and precise casualty assessment difficult. However, post-strike evaluations reportedly confirmed that several terrorists were neutralised during the operation.
The Defence Headquarters also dismissed allegations of civilian casualties, maintaining that there was no credible evidence indicating that civilians were affected by the strike.
The Armed Forces of Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism and compliance with international humanitarian law, while urging members of the public to depend only on verified information from official military channels.