At least 16 civilians die in Zamfara, northwest Nigeria, on Saturday after being mistaken for thieves by a military pilot, as reported by villagers on Sunday. The incident was reported late on Saturday evening while the villagers are returning home as they confronted their attackers, gunman who had come to attack the Dangebe village, stolen livestock, and lit homes.
Local resident Sa’idu Ibrahim said the airstrike occurred near Tungar Kara village. “The group was returning to their villages after chasing away the bandits when the fighter jet bombed them on reaching Tungar Kara,” he said. Ibrahim said 16 bodies were recovered, and several severely injured persons were taken to the hospital.
Bube Namare, another resident, said that the death toll may rise as more bodies are being searched for.
Demands for Probe
Amnesty International reported at least 20 deaths and appealed to Nigerian officials to conduct a prompt and independent probe into the air strike. It is the second deadly military error involving civilians within a month, after an airstrike targeting jihadists in neighbouring Sokoto state caused civilian casualties on December 25.
Nigeria’s military has been engaged in combating criminal gangs, known locally as bandits, who terrorize communities in the northwest and central regions. These gangs frequently raid villages, kill or abduct residents for ransom, and burn homes after looting.
History of Similar Incidents
This is the latest in a series of incidents that have been unable to differentiate between civilians and armed groups in conflict zones. There have been other instances of mistaken airstrikes in the past. In December 2023, an airstrike in Kaduna state mistakenly targeted a Muslim religious gathering, killing at least 85 people. In January 2017, a fighter jet struck a displacement camp in Rann, near the Cameroon border, killing at least 112 people.
The struggle to achieve this accurately continues, which underscores how complicated Nigeria’s military operations are in the region.
