At least 16 civilians have lost their lives in a military air strike in Zamfara State, located in north-western Nigeria, reportedly due to a case of mistaken identity involving criminal gangs.
Local residents informed media outlets that the deceased were part of community vigilante groups and civilians who were defending themselves against armed gangs known for kidnapping individuals for ransom.
The air strikes were aimed at militant groups in the Zurmi and Maradun regions, and the state governor, Dauda Lawal, expressed his condolences to the affected community.
The military has confirmed that air strikes were carried out, claiming they delivered “a decisive blow to bandits terrorizing villages in the area.”
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) announced it is looking into “reports of vigilante losses.”
“While the operation successfully neutralized several bandits and facilitated the recovery of some kidnapping victims, the NAF is deeply concerned about reports of civilian casualties during the operation,” the statement read.
It added that a “comprehensive investigation” is underway to determine the facts of the situation, which will be communicated to the public for transparency and reassurance.
A local source quoted by Africa24hrs reported that civilians were returning to their villages after driving away bandits when they were struck by a bombing.
Sa’idu Ibrahim stated that the villagers “recovered 16 bodies from the attacks and transported several others with serious injuries to the hospital.”
Amnesty International Nigeria has reported a death toll of 20 and indicated that many others were injured in the assault on Tunga Kara village, urging authorities to conduct an “immediate and impartial” investigation into the incident.
The organization criticized the use of airstrikes, stating, “Launching air raids is not a legitimate law enforcement method by anyone’s standard. Such reckless use of deadly force is unlawful, outrageous, and highlights the Nigerian military’s alarming disregard for the lives of those it is meant to protect.”
In recent years, Nigeria’s security forces have been engaged in combat against powerful criminal gangs, referred to as bandits, who have been terrorizing the north-west and central regions. These bandits raid villages, set homes ablaze, and kill or abduct residents for ransom.
There have been several instances of accidental airstrikes in recent months, including a Christmas Day incident that resulted in the deaths of at least 10 civilians in the neighboring Sokoto state.
In 2023, at least 85 civilians, primarily women and children, were killed while attending a Muslim religious gathering in a village in Kaduna state after being mistaken for bandits.
