The aftermath of an airstrike in Zurumi Local Government Area has continued to generate grief and controversy, with conflicting accounts emerging from military authorities and local residents over the outcome of the operation.………
According to a video report shared by AIT News on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, officials under Sector 2 of Operation FASAYAMA described the mission as a pre-emptive strike based on credible intelligence targeting suspected terrorist gatherings.
The correspondent reported that military authorities said the operation focused on a meeting of alleged terror leaders believed to be planning coordinated attacks across West Africa. “The mission was a pre-emptive strike based on credible intelligence. Military officials say they targeted a summit of notorious terror leaders from across West Africa who were planning coordinated attacks,” the report stated.
However, residents and survivors described a different scene on the ground, reporting significant civilian casualties and widespread destruction following the airstrike.
The correspondent noted that hospitals in the area, including Yerima Bakura Specialist Hospital and the Federal Medical Center, were overwhelmed with injured victims, while families continued to search for missing relatives.
Among the survivors is Jamilu Abdullahi, who recounted losing family members and witnessing the immediate aftermath of the attack.
Abdullahi Jamilu said: “The terrorists were there. I saw over thousands on motorcycle. But by the time the jets arrived, I’m not sure they were still in the market. I was preparing for prayer when the bomb fell. In an instant, I saw my brother covered in blood. My daughter’s leg was fractured. We buried over 80 people immediately. We had to use minivans just to move their bodies to the cemetery. So many young girls and traders were caught in it.”
Another survivor, livestock trader Abdullahi Hassan, also described losing his son in the incident after briefly leaving the market before the strike occurred.
The report further indicated that while the military maintains that the operation successfully hit a terrorist stronghold, community members are calling for clearer distinctions between insurgents and civilians who may have been affected during the attack.
“While the military insists the operation was a successful hit on the terrorist stronghold, the community is demanding a distinction to be made between the insurgents and the civilians caught in the crossfire,” the correspondent stated.
