A Nigerian military airstrike targeting armed groups in the northwest part of the country has mistakenly killed a number of civilians working in community security outfits.
This will be the third of such occurrence by the military in a little over a year during aerial bombardments of extremists and rebel groups.
The state governor spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris in a statement said Nigeria’s air force was targeting rebels in the hard-hit Zurmi and Maradun areas of Zamfara state
Part of his statement read: “Regrettably, some members of the Civilian Joint Task Force and local vigilantes were also affected during the operation in Tungar Kara, resulting in the loss of lives.
Idris disclosed the victims were “mistakenly identified as bandits fleeing” from the area.
Officials did not say how many civilians were killed. However, Salisu Maradun, a local resident, said they counted up to 20 bodies while 10 others were being treated for injuries.
The air force said it was investigating the incident and promised to work to minimise and mitigate any harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure. “The safety and well-being of all Nigerians are of utmost importance” in its mission, it said.
Meanwhile, the Zamfara government called the weekend airstrike “successful” as it “decisively targeted bandits.”
“We will continue to offer support to enhance intelligence sharing, provide logistics, and strengthen community engagement,” the statement said.
In December 2023, more than 80 civilians were mistakenly killed during a religious gathering in the northern Kaduna state.
In May 2024, the Nigerian military said two of its personnel would face a court martial over the misfire. However, it never released the investigation’s findings, continuing a trend that rights groups have criticized as a lack of transparency.