An airstrike conducted by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) inadvertently targeted members of the Zamfara Community Protection Guard (ZCPG), local vigilantes, and residents in the village of Tungar Kara, located in the Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State, on Saturday evening.
This tragic incident, which followed a raid by bandits, resulted in the deaths of at least 20 individuals, with many others sustaining serious injuries and lacking immediate medical assistance.
The ZCPG and local vigilantes have been instrumental in combating banditry in the region, often stepping in to safeguard communities where formal security forces are either absent or limited.
Residents of Tungar Kara have voiced profound sorrow and anger regarding the airstrike, demanding an independent inquiry into the circumstances that led to this tragic error.
The event has sparked widespread condemnation, with community members expressing their outrage over the erroneous attack.
Bakatsine, a regional analyst specializing in banditry, suggested that the airstrike was likely part of a broader military initiative aimed at dismantling bandit hideouts in the vicinity.
Unfortunately, the vigilantes, who had organized to protect the community in the aftermath of the bandit raid, were unintentionally caught in the crossfire of the strike.
“Sixteen bodies have been recovered so far, but the total number of casualties may rise as recovery efforts continue,” Bakatsine said on his X page.
“This tragic error has claimed the lives of those who were actively working to protect their community.”
Amnesty International has condemned the attack, urging the Nigerian authorities to immediately and impartially investigate the airstrike.
“The Nigerian authorities must immediately and impartially investigate the Saturday evening air strike that killed at least 20 people at Tungar Kara village of Maradun LGA Zamfara state. Dozens of people injured are currently in critical condition — without access to medical care.
“The Nigerian authorities’ consistent failure to hold the military to account is encouraging impunity and increasingly endangering the lives of the civilians the military is supposed to be protecting,” Amnesty International wrote on X.
It is worth noting that this incident is not an isolated occurrence for the Nigerian Air Force, which has previously conducted erroneous bombings in various communities.
Notable instances have been recorded in Borno, Kaduna, and most recently in Sokoto State.
Naijaonpoint recalls that on Christmas Day in 2024, air strikes targeted two communities within the Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 individuals.
SBM Intelligence, a consulting firm, has documented that between January 2017 and September 2024, the Nigerian Air Force executed 17 accidental air strikes, leading to approximately 500 fatalities.
Attempts to reach military officials for a comment regarding this incident were unsuccessful at the time of this report, and the Nigerian military has not yet issued an official statement.