At least 16 civilians were killed in Nigeria’s north-western Zamfara State during a military air strike, reportedly after being mistaken for members of armed criminal gangs.
Local residents told media outlets that the victims were primarily vigilantes and civilians defending their communities from notorious kidnappers.
The air strikes targeted criminal groups in Zurmi and Maradun areas, according to reports. Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal expressed his condolences to the affected communities.
The Nigerian military confirmed the operation, describing it as a “decisive blow to bandits terrorizing villages in the region.”
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) acknowledged conducting the strikes and stated it was investigating “reports of vigilante losses.”
A NAF spokesperson said, “While the operation successfully eliminated several bandits and rescued kidnap victims, the NAF views with grave concern reports of civilian casualties during the operation.”
The spokesperson added that a “comprehensive investigation” was underway to determine the facts, and the findings would be shared to reassure the public.
A local source cited by the AFP news agency claimed the civilians had been returning to their villages after confronting bandits when the air strikes occurred.
“We recovered 16 bodies from the attacks and rushed several severely injured people to the hospital,” said Sa’idu Ibrahim, a local resident.
Amnesty International Nigeria reported a higher death toll of 20 and stated that dozens more were injured during the strike on Tunga Kara village.
The rights group called for an immediate and impartial investigation, stating, “Launching air raids is not a legitimate law enforcement method.
Such reckless use of deadly force is unlawful, outrageous, and highlights the Nigerian military’s shocking disregard for the lives of those it is meant to protect.”
Nigeria’s security forces have been grappling with criminal gangs, commonly referred to as bandits, who have plagued the north-west and central regions with violence.
These gangs are known for raiding villages, burning homes, and kidnapping residents for ransom.
This incident is not an isolated case, as several accidental air strikes have been reported in recent months.
On Christmas Day in 2023, at least 10 civilians were killed in an air strike in Sokoto State. Earlier that year, an attack in Kaduna State mistakenly targeted a religious gathering, killing 85 civilians, mostly women and children.
One of the most devastating incidents occurred in January 2017, when a jet bombed a camp housing 40,000 displaced people near the Cameroonian border, killing at least 112 individuals.
Source-BBC
