A weekend military air strike in Zamfara State, northwest Nigeria, has left at least 20 people dead, drawing outrage and renewed calls for accountability from human rights groups.
The Nigerian military confirmed the operation, saying it targeted armed groups—often referred to as “bandits”—who were allegedly planning fresh attacks on nearby villages. According to Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, intelligence reports indicated the criminals had already killed farmers and kidnapped civilians, including women and children.
But what was meant to be a counter-terror mission turned into a heartbreaking mistake.
Local residents tell a different story. They say a group of community vigilantes chasing after bandits who had raided their villages was mistakenly bombed by a military jet. The air force had reportedly been called in after earlier attacks on the villages of Mani and Wabi in the Maru district, where armed men stole cattle and abducted locals.
“We were hit by a double tragedy,” said Buhari Dangulbi, a resident of the affected area. “The bandits took our people and cows, and those who tried to recover them were bombed by a jet. Twenty of them died.”
Abdullahi Ali, a local vigilante, told Reuters that the military aircraft arrived and opened fire on their group. “At least 20 people were killed,” he said.
Another resident, Ishiye Kabiru, shared that vigilantes from several surrounding communities had joined the chase before being mistakenly targeted. “It was a tragedy no one saw coming.”
“This has become a pattern,” said Amnesty International, which condemned the incident and called for a full-scale investigation. “While responding to bandit attacks is necessary, launching air strikes without clear distinction between criminals and civilians is dangerous and unlawful.”
This isn’t the first time Nigerian airstrikes have resulted in civilian casualties:
- In January 2025, at least 16 vigilantes were killed in Zamfara’s Zurmi district.
- In December 2022, over 100 civilians died in Mutunji village during a similar operation.
- In December 2023, an air raid on a religious gathering in Kaduna State killed at least 85 people.
As families in Zamfara mourn their loved ones, many are left with unanswered questions and renewed fears over military operations meant to protect them. Locals say they now face not only threats from bandits but also the risk of deadly “friendly fire.”
Stay with Gistmattaz.com for more updates on this developing story.
