Nigerian Air Raid Mistakenly Kills Civilians in Anti-Gang Operation

An air force operation (air raid) in Nigeria targeting criminal gangs in the northwest of the country has resulted in the accidental deaths of civilians, according to government officials and local sources.
The air force carried out operations over the weekend in the Maradun and Zurmi local government areas, targeting “bandits” who are notorious for killing civilians and carrying out mass kidnappings, the governor of Zamfara State’s spokesman said on Sunday. Sulaiman Bala Idris admitted that local vigilantes and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force were “regrettably” impacted by the strikes in Tungar Kara. These self-defense organizations were “mistakenly identified as bandits fleeing” the Zurmi region, he clarified.
Read Also: Stampede at Indian Temple Kills Six, Injures Dozens
While an exact death toll has not been released by officials, reports vary. The Associated Press cited resident Salisu Maradun who stated that locals counted up to 20 bodies with another 10 individuals injured. Reuters also reported that at least 15 civilians, including local security guards, were killed in the air raid. In response, the air force announced the launch of a “comprehensive investigation” into the incident.
They pledged to “minimise and mitigate any harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure,” while also asserting that the operation had “successfully eliminated several bandits and led to the recovery of some kidnap victims.” Nigeria’s air force has increasingly used aerial attacks in the northwest and central regions in recent years, targeting armed groups and gangs. However, these strikes have caused unintended civilian casualties on numerous occasions.
A similar incident in December 2023 saw over 80 civilians killed during a religious gathering in Kaduna State. The Lagos-based SBM Intelligence research firm estimates that military air raids have caused the deaths of approximately 400 civilians since 2017.
Source: Al Jazeera