Nigeria, May 11 -- The Defence Headquarters has denied reports that civilians were killed in the airstrikes that struck a village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

This is despite gory images that corroborated testimonies from locals alleging that villagers, including minors, died during the military operation.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that an unspecified number of civilians, including children and women, were killed in the airstrike on Guradnayi, a settlement near Kusasu, Shiroro LGA.

Locals told this newspaper that the incident occurred around 5 a.m. when terrorists fleeing an aerial offensive by the military were passing through the village.

A relative of one of the deceased civilians estimated that 12 people were kill...