At least 16 civilians were tragically killed in a military airstrike in Zamfara State, Nigeria, reportedly due to a case of mistaken identity where they were thought to be associated with criminal gangs. Eyewitness accounts indicate that the victims were part of local vigilante groups actively working to protect their communities from notorious armed gangs involved in kidnappings for ransom.
The military airstrikes targeted suspected militant groups in the Zurmi and Maradun regions. Governor Dauda Lawal expressed his condolences to the affected community amid the fallout from this incident.
The Nigerian military has confirmed the airstrikes, stating that they aimed to deliver a significant blow to the bandits terrorizing the region. The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is currently investigating reports concerning the loss of civilian lives during this operation. In a statement, the NAF acknowledged the successful elimination of several bandits and the recovery of some kidnapping victims while expressing serious concern over the civilian casualties.
Local sources claim that the victims had been returning home after successfully driving away bandits when the airstrike occurred. Villagers reported recovering 16 bodies and transporting numerous injured individuals to medical facilities. Amnesty International Nigeria has reported an increased death toll of 20 and has called on authorities for an immediate and thorough investigation into the incident, emphasizing that aerial bombardments are not an acceptable method of law enforcement.
The group condemned the military’s use of deadly force, highlighting the need for accountability and respect for civilian lives. In recent years, Nigeria’s security forces have faced challenges in combating powerful criminal factions known as bandits, who have inflicted terror across north-western and central states, conducting violent raids and perpetrating kidnappings.
Previous incidents of accidental airstrikes have raised alarms, including a Christmas Day attack that claimed the lives of at least 10 civilians in Sokoto State and a 2023 incident in Kaduna State where over 85 civilians were killed during a mistaken identity scenario at a religious gathering. Another tragic event in January 2017 resulted in 112 casualties when a military jet targeted a camp for displaced individuals near the Cameroonian border.
