|
LISTEN TO THIS THE AFRICANA VOICE ARTICLE NOW
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
At least 16 civilians lost their lives Sunday, January 12, 2025, in Nigeria’s Zamfara State after a military air strike reportedly targeted members of local vigilante groups. The victims were mistakenly identified as members of criminal gangs, according to residents, adding to the growing list of accidental civilian casualties in Nigeria’s fight against armed bandits.
The attack occurred in the Zurmi and Maradun areas of Zamfara State, regions that have been plagued by persistent violence from criminal gangs, commonly referred to as bandits. These groups have been notorious for their brutal raids, abductions for ransom, and terrorizing of rural communities. In response, local residents have formed vigilante groups to defend their communities in the absence of adequate security.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) confirmed conducting air strikes in the area, claiming the operations had delivered a “decisive blow” to the criminal gangs. The military reported that several bandits were neutralized, and some kidnap victims were rescued during the operation. However, the NAF acknowledged reports of civilian casualties and announced an ongoing investigation to determine the cause of the tragic error.
“While the operation successfully eliminated several bandits and led to the recovery of some kidnap victims, the NAF views with grave concern reports of the loss of civilian lives in the course of the operation,” the Air Force said in a statement. It assured the public that the findings of the investigation would be made available to restore public confidence.
According to local accounts, the civilians were members of a vigilante group returning to their villages after driving off bandits when they were bombed by the military aircraft. Sa’idu Ibrahim, a resident of the affected Tunga Kara village, reported that 16 bodies were recovered from the attack, while several others with severe injuries were rushed to the hospital. Amnesty International Nigeria, however, stated that the death toll stood at 20 and demanded an immediate, impartial investigation into the incident.
Zamfara State has been a hotbed of criminal activity, with bandits often targeting vulnerable rural communities. In recent years, the Nigerian military has ramped up its air strikes and ground operations in the region, aiming to curb the activities of these gangs. However, the use of air strikes in civilian-populated areas has raised significant concerns about collateral damage.
This is not the first time a military operation has resulted in civilian casualties. On Christmas Day 2024, an air strike in neighboring Sokoto State claimed at least 10 civilian lives. In 2023, an air strike during a Muslim religious gathering in Kaduna State killed 85 civilians, mostly women and children, after they were mistaken for bandits. One of the most devastating incidents occurred in January 2017, when 112 people in a displaced persons’ camp near the Cameroonian border were killed in a similar error.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have condemned the latest incident, accusing the Nigerian military of recklessness. “Launching air raids is not a legitimate law enforcement method by anyone’s standard,” Amnesty International Nigeria stated. “Such reckless use of deadly force is unlawful, outrageous, and lays bare the Nigerian military’s shocking disregard for the lives of those it supposedly exists to protect.”
Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal expressed condolences to the victims’ families, describing the incident as deeply regrettable. The tragedy highlights the delicate balance between addressing the insecurity in the region and ensuring civilian safety in military operations.
LEAVE A COMMENT
You must be logged in to post a comment.