A tragic military airstrike on Saturday reportedly killed 15 civilians and left over 30 others injured in several communities within Maradun and Zurmi Local Government Areas of Zamfara State.
Residents in the affected areas confirmed the incident, saying it occurred during the evening after local vigilantes had repelled an attempted attack by bandits. According to witnesses, the airstrike mistakenly targeted villagers, mistaking them for the fleeing assailants.
A resident of Jan-Bako, who gave his name as Musa, recounted the ordeal: “Bandits initially stormed our villages on Friday, intending to launch an attack. However, we fought back and chased them away after an exchange of gunfire. They regrouped the next day and returned, but we were ready and managed to repel them once again.”
Following the clash, some villagers reportedly climbed nearby hills to monitor potential bandit movements. Musa described what happened next: “While we were watching from the hills, a military jet arrived and bombed the area, killing 15 residents and injuring many others.”
Another resident, Muhammad Aminu, expressed similar sentiments: “We had prior warning about the bandits’ return and prepared ourselves. After successfully defending the village, the airstrike happened, killing our people. The bandits had already left by then.”
Auwalu Ibrahim, a community member, confirmed the death toll and noted that many injured victims were taken to Bako and Moriki General Hospitals for treatment. “The situation is heartbreaking. We fought off the bandits, only for our people to be mistaken for them by the military,” he lamented.
A senior police officer in Maradun, speaking anonymously, explained: “The victims were mostly members of local vigilante groups pursuing the bandits alongside Zamfara Community Protection Guards (CPG). It seems the military jet mistook them for bandits due to their black attire, leading to the tragic bombing.”
Despite the civilian casualties, military officials noted significant gains in the fight against bandits over the weekend. According to a statement by Governor Dauda Lawal’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, the state government acknowledged the success of the military operations but expressed condolences for the loss of innocent lives. “We commend the military’s efforts while deeply mourning the unintended casualties,” the statement read.
Governor Lawal reiterated the state’s commitment to collaborating with federal security agencies to sustain operations against banditry and ensure peace in Zamfara. He also promised support for the families affected by the airstrike.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) confirmed that its airstrikes targeted bandit strongholds in collaboration with ground troops, leading to the death of several top bandit commanders. NAF spokesperson Air Vice Marshal Olusola Alinboyewa noted that while Kachallah Turji, a notorious bandit leader, remained at large, the operation had significantly disrupted his network.
“Scores of bandits were neutralized, and several kidnapped victims were rescued,” Alinboyewa said, emphasizing the precision of the operation coordinated with real-time intelligence. “Our operations will continue until all threats to national security are eradicated.”
Residents, though relieved by the military’s efforts against the bandits, urged authorities to improve intelligence gathering to prevent further loss of civilian lives.
