A tragic incident occurred in the Tungar Kara community of Gidan Goga district, Maradun Local Government Area, Zamfara State, on Saturday evening, as an airstrike by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) mistakenly targeted members of the Zamfara Community Protection Guard (ZCPG), local vigilantes, and residents. At least 16 people were reportedly killed.
Eyewitnesses stated that the airstrike happened shortly after armed bandits had attacked the area and fled. The vigilantes and residents, who were defending their community from the attackers, were caught in the unfortunate strike.
Maharazu Salisu Gado Faru, a lawmaker representing Maradun II Constituency in the Zamfara State House of Assembly, confirmed the tragic incident.
He described the airstrike as an accident, stating that it targeted local vigilantes who had mobilized to counter the bandits.
According to the lawmaker, the exact death toll remains unconfirmed at this time.
The military authorities have yet to issue a formal statement regarding the airstrike in Zamfara State that mistakenly killed members of the Zamfara Community Protection Guard (ZCPG), local vigilantes, and residents.
However, on Sunday, the Nigerian Air Force released a statement highlighting the success of *Operation FANSAN YAMMA*, a coordinated air and ground offensive targeting the stronghold of notorious bandit leader Kachallah Bello Turji at Fakai Hills.
In the statement, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, spokesperson for the Air Force, praised the operation for neutralizing numerous bandits and rescuing several kidnapped victims, describing it as a significant achievement in the effort to restore peace and security in Zamfara State.
Similar tragic incidents involving civilian casualties during military operations have occurred in the past.
The Zamfara airstrike marks the second deadly accidental bombing of civilians since the December 25 raid in neighboring Sokoto State, where two villages were struck during an operation targeting jihadists.
In December 2023, another Nigerian military airstrike in the Tudun Biri community of Kaduna State mistakenly targeted a Muslim religious gathering, resulting in at least 85 deaths, primarily women and children.
A similar incident occurred in January 2017 when a fighter jet struck a camp for displaced persons in Rann, near the Cameroon border, killing at least 112 people.