Nigerian airstrike blunder: Civilians mistaken for bandits
At least 20 civilians were killed in the village of Tungar Kara in the Nigerian state of Zamfara because a pilot conducting a bombing raid mistook local self-defence forces for bandits operating in the region. Unfortunately, the number of casualties may rise. This is not the military's first fatal mistake in recent times.
In the village of Tungar Kara in the state of Zamfara, in northwestern Nigeria, a tragedy occurred in which at least 20 civilians lost their lives. On Saturday night, a military aircraft pilot, while carrying out a bombing raid, mistook local self-defence forces for bandits operating in the region. This information was confirmed in a Sunday statement by Zamfara state governor, Dauda Lawal, at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
According to local media, the number of casualties may rise as families are still searching the area for the missing. Governor Lawal explained that the victims were members of the local vigilante guard, who were mistakenly identified as bandits fleeing from Nigerian army attacks.
The AFP agency, citing conversations with residents, provided more dramatic details of the incident. Information gathered by AFP indicates that members of the vigilante guard had chased away the bandits and were returning to their villages. It was at this moment they were attacked.
Attack on civilians in Nigeria. Government tried to cover up the issue
The authorities tried to cover up the pilot's fatal mistake by exaggerating the success of the military operation.
We received many positive reports of precise attacks conducted by our air forces over the weekend on troubled areas of the Maradun and Zurmi local government – stated Governor Lawal.
He added that "unfortunately, some local guards were also impacted during this operation, resulting in loss of life. We pray for them."
Similar incidents have occurred in the past. At the end of December, in the neighbouring state of Sokoto, two villages were bombed, resulting in 10 civilian deaths. According to African consulting firm SBM Intelligence, Nigerian air forces conducted 17 accidental raids from January 2017 to September 2024, resulting in around 500 deaths.
The Nigerian military is struggling with jihadist groups and criminal gangs that have been terrorizing the northwestern part of the country for years. Bandits often raid farmers, kidnap them for ransom, burn homes, and abduct cattle.
Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, is in an economic crisis. Last year, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) predicted that the poverty level in Nigeria would reach almost 40 per cent.
