NAF airstrike mistakenly kills 20 in Zamfara village.
Residents, vigilantes among the casualties.
Amnesty demands investigation into the tragedy.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that the tragic incident, which followed a raid by bandits, resulted in the deaths of at least 20 individuals. Many others sustained serious injuries and were left without immediate medical assistance.
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The ZCPG and local vigilantes have played a crucial role in combating banditry in the region, often stepping in to protect communities where formal security forces are either absent or stretched thin.
Residents of Tungar Kara have expressed profound sorrow and outrage over the airstrike, calling for an independent investigation into the circumstances that led to the error.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation, with community members voicing their anger over what they describe as an avoidable tragedy.
Bakatsine, a regional analyst specializing in banditry, suggested that the airstrike was likely part of a broader military campaign to dismantle bandit hideouts in the area. Unfortunately, vigilantes, who had organized to defend the community in the aftermath of the bandit raid, were inadvertently caught in the crossfire.
“Sixteen bodies have been recovered so far, but the total number of casualties may rise as recovery efforts continue,” Bakatsine stated on his X (formerly Twitter) page.
“This tragic error has claimed the lives of those who were actively working to protect their community.”
Amnesty International condemned the attack, urging Nigerian authorities to conduct an immediate and impartial investigation into the airstrike.
“The Nigerian authorities must immediately and impartially investigate the Saturday evening airstrike that killed at least 20 people in Tungar Kara village, 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 accountable is encouraging impunity and increasingly endangering the lives of civilians the military is supposed to protect,” Amnesty International wrote on X.
This incident is not an isolated case for the Nigerian Air Force, which has previously been linked to erroneous bombings in several communities.
Notable incidents have occurred in Borno, Kaduna, and most recently in Sokoto State.
On Christmas Day in 2024, Naija News recalls, airstrikes targeted two communities within the Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State, killing at least 10 individuals.
According to SBM Intelligence, a consulting firm, the Nigerian Air Force carried out 17 accidental airstrikes between January 2017 and September 2024, resulting in approximately 500 fatalities.
Attempts to reach military officials for comments on the latest incident were unsuccessful at the time of this report. The Nigerian military has yet to issue an official statement.
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