No fewer than 16 vigilantes were tragically killed during an airstrike in Kakindawa village, located in the Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State. The incident occurred on Saturday evening as the village’s vigilante group was en route to assist neighbors in Tungar Kara village, following a bandit attack.
An indigenous resident of Kakindawa, Garba Umar, reported that the airstrike happened around 3:30 p.m. as the vigilantes approached Tungar Kara. Alarmingly, the vigilantes were bombed despite the fact that the bandits had already fled the area. The attack resulted in the death of 16 individuals, including Umar’s son.
Umar recounted, “The bandits went to Tungar Kara village to rustle animals and kidnap residents. Upon receiving the distress call, we mobilized our vigilante group. Unfortunately, as we were nearing the village, an aircraft dropped a bomb on us.”
In a response to the incident, a spokesperson for the Nigerian Air Force stated that Operation Fansan Yamma conducted a coordinated air and ground assault on Fakai Hills, targeting bandits led by notorious kingpin Kachallah Bello Turji. The operation reportedly inflicted heavy casualties upon the bandits, disrupting their operational capacity.
While the state government confirmed the NAF operations and acknowledged the civilian casualties, it expressed deep sorrow over the loss of civilian lives, particularly those of the Civilian Joint Task Force and local vigilantes. A government representative offered condolences, emphasizing that the sacrifices of the deceased would not be forgotten and that support would be provided to their families.
This incident follows a recent pattern of tragic accidental bombings, as another airstrike earlier in the month mistakenly targeted civilians in the Silame Local Government Area, resulting in multiple fatalities.
The Nigerian Air Force reiterated its commitment to safeguard civilians while intensifying efforts to combat banditry in the region. The Zamfara state government commended the military for its renewed efforts against armed groups and extended its condolences to affected families from the recent airstrike.
