A Nigerian military air operation in Zamfara State’s Zurmi and Maradun areas has resulted in the deaths of at least 16 civilians. Local sources indicate the victims were members of vigilante groups and civilians who had been defending their communities against armed criminal groups.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) confirmed conducting the operation, stating it had successfully targeted criminal gangs in the region. Following reports of civilian casualties, the NAF announced an ongoing, comprehensive investigation into the incident, pledging to communicate findings to the public.
According to the AFP news agency, resident Sa’idu Ibrahim reported that the civilians were struck while returning to their villages after confronting bandits. The incident resulted in 16 confirmed deaths, with several others sustaining severe injuries requiring hospitalization.
Amnesty International Nigeria reported a higher death toll of 20 and criticized the military’s approach, stating that air raids are not an appropriate law enforcement method. The organization called for an immediate and impartial investigation into the incident at Tunga Kara village.
State Governor Dauda Lawal has extended condolences to the affected community. This incident adds to a series of accidental airstrikes in Nigeria, including a Christmas Day attack in Sokoto state that killed 10 civilians, an incident in Kaduna state in 2023 that resulted in 85 civilian deaths, and a 2017 strike that killed 112 people at a displacement camp near the Cameroonian border.
The Nigerian military continues to combat criminal gangs, locally known as bandits, who frequently conduct village raids, destroy homes, and engage in kidnapping for ransom across northwestern and central Nigeria.
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