An airstrike during a religious celebration in Kaduna state, north-west Nigeria, resulted in the tragic deaths of at least 85 civilians, according to the local emergency management authority.
Governor Uba Sani stated that the civilians were “mistakenly killed” by a military drone that was targeting “terrorists and bandits.”
While the army has not issued a comment, a state official named Samuel Aruwa conveyed information from an army officer, Maj VU Okoro, explaining that the military’s mission against terrorists inadvertently affected community members.
Governor Sani has initiated an investigation into the “tragic incident,” which occurred during a religious festival in the village of Tundun Biri, where villagers had gathered.
The National Emergency Management Agency confirmed that 85 bodies had been buried, with ongoing search efforts. The casualties encompassed children, women, and the elderly.
Witnesses shared harrowing details, with one man recounting two separate attacks.
He described an initial bombing that claimed numerous lives, followed by a second strike on those attempting to retrieve the deceased.
Another witness, a woman, mentioned the devastating scene with bodies scattered everywhere, recounting how some women perished while holding their infants.
The Nigerian military, in its efforts against militia groups termed as bandits and labeled “terrorists” by the government, has faced accusations in the past of causing civilian casualties.
Similar incidents involving accidental strikes have been reported, including an instance in 2021 where over 20 fishermen were mistakenly killed in a fighter jet strike on a jihadist camp.
A report by SB Morgen, a research firm, indicated that accidental strikes by Nigerian forces have led to over 300 deaths since 2017.
Source-BBC
