by Temitope Oladeji
03/06/2025
A Nigerian military air strike in Zamfara State, northwest Nigeria, has left at least 20 people dead, according to both official sources and residents.
The incident, which occurred over the weekend, has sparked outrage from affected communities and renewed calls from human rights organizations for an independent investigation.
Military authorities said the air strike was launched in response to intelligence reports indicating that a large group of armed men, often referred to as “bandits,” were assembling to attack nearby settlements.
According to Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the armed group had already killed several farmers and abducted civilians, including women and children.
Ejodame confirmed that two local vigilantes were also killed and two others injured in the operation.
However, residents offered a different account, saying a military jet mistakenly targeted local vigilantes who were chasing the attackers.
Prodesq media gathered from villagers that communities had earlier suffered attacks by bandits in the Mani and Wabi areas of the Maru district, during which cattle were stolen and residents kidnapped.
In response, local vigilantes pursued the attackers, only to be hit by an air strike after the military was called in for support.
“We were struck by a double tragedy,” said Buhari Dangulbi, a resident.
“The bandits raided our villages, and then those who went after them were bombed by a fighter jet. Twenty people were killed.”
Abdullahi Ali, a member of a local militia in Mani, said the military aircraft fired on the vigilante group. “They were trying to rescue those kidnapped, but instead they were killed,” he said.
Another local, Ishiye Kabiru, added, “The vigilantes from Maraya and nearby villages went after the bandits, only to be bombed by mistake.” Alka Tanimu noted the grim aftermath:
“We still have to pay ransom to get our people back, and the stolen cattle are gone.”
The incident has drawn sharp condemnation from Amnesty International, which called it another example of reckless military operations targeting civilian areas. “
While armed groups must be stopped, launching air strikes without proper safeguards is both dangerous and unlawful,” the organization said in a statement.
Such incidents are not new. In January, at least 16 vigilantes were killed in a similar strike in Zamfara’s Zurmi district.
In December 2022, over 100 civilians died in Mutunji village under similar circumstances.
A year later, an air strike on a religious gathering in Kaduna State killed at least 85 people.
Rights groups and affected communities are urging the Nigerian government to conduct an impartial investigation and implement measures to prevent future tragedies.