Nigeria: civilians mistakenly killed in air strike
A Nigerian airstrike targeting armed groups in the northwest of the country, which has been plagued by conflicts, is reported to have accidentally killed several civilians working in community security units, according to authorities and local residents. This would mark the third airstrike error by the military in just over a year during airstrikes against extremist and rebel groups.
The Nigerian Air Force was targeting rebels in the heavily affected areas of Zurmi and Maradun in Zamfara State, said Sulaiman Bala Idris, spokesperson for the state governor, on Sunday. “Unfortunately, some members of the Joint Civilian Task Force and local militias were also affected during the operation in Tungar Kara, resulting in casualties”, Idris said in a statement, specifying that they were “mistakenly identified as bandits fleeing” the area.
The number of civilians killed has not been specified, and the Air Force has not released a statement. However, Salisu Maradun, a local resident, stated that they counted up to 20 bodies, while 10 others were being treated for injuries. Additionally, the Zamfara government described the weekend airstrike as “successful”, as it “targeted bandits” in a “new offensive” by the military.
“We will continue to offer our support to improve intelligence sharing, provide logistics, and strengthen community engagement,” the statement said.
The Nigerian military frequently conducts air raids to combat extremist violence that has destabilized the northern part of the country. These airstrikes have reportedly killed around 400 civilians since 2017, according to the Lagos-based research firm SBM Intelligence.
