Niger State airstrike kills three children and injures father

A Nigerian military airstrike struck Guradnayi village near Kusasu in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State on early Sunday, reportedly targeting bandits. Residents said at least 13 civilians were killed, including seven children, and six others were hospitalized. Victor Solomon, a 50‑year‑old father, survived with severe facial injuries and said, “I don’t know if I can survive this. I lost three children in the strike and I sustained severe injuries to my face.”

Local witnesses described two bombs dropped—one near the river and another on Solomon’s house—while the Defence Headquarters and the Niger State Commissioner for Homeland Security claimed the operation killed only terrorists, neutralising about 70 armed bandits and stating that civilians had been warned to evacuate. The conflicting accounts highlight ongoing concerns over civilian safety in Nigeria’s counter‑bandit campaigns.