A Nigerian military airstrike has tragically claimed the lives of at least six civilians in Zakka village, Safana district of Katsina State, after a fighter jet mistakenly bombed the area while targeting armed gangs, commonly known as bandits.
The deadly incident, which occurred on Saturday, was reported by Sahara Reporters via its official X handle. According to multiple eyewitnesses, the airstrike hit a cluster of huts on the village’s outskirts, reducing them to rubble and leaving an entire family dead.
The air raid came in the wake of a brazen attack by armed bandits on a nearby police base, which left two policemen and a vigilante dead. Residents recounted that after the assailants had withdrawn, the military jet circled over Zakka village before releasing its deadly payload on a family compound.
“The jet deployed after the bandits had withdrawn and circled the village before striking a cluster of huts belonging to a family outside the village,” said Muntari Sada, a resident of Zakka, in an interview with AFP. He revealed that the victims’ remains were so severely mutilated that they had to be gathered in bags for burial.
His account was corroborated by two other residents who confirmed the casualty toll. However, Amnesty International placed the death toll at 10 and has since called for an “impartial, transparent, and immediate investigation” into the incident.
The Nigerian military has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident, but this latest tragedy adds to a growing list of deadly airstrikes mistakenly targeting innocent civilians in northern Nigeria.
January 2024: A military airstrike in Zamfara State killed at least 16 people after an army jet mistakenly targeted local vigilantes in the Zurmi district.
December 2023: A Nigerian military jet killed 10 people and injured six others in Sokoto State while striking two villages suspected of harboring jihadists.
December 2023: In one of the most harrowing incidents, an airstrike in the Tudun Biri community of Kaduna State mistakenly targeted a Muslim religious gathering, killing at least 85 people, including women and children.
January 2017: A fighter jet bombed a displacement camp in Rann, near the Cameroon border, killing at least 112 people who had fled jihadist violence.
The latest mishap has reignited public outcry over the military’s air operations, with critics demanding a review of intelligence-gathering methods and stricter accountability for civilian casualties.
For years, Nigeria’s armed forces have been engaged in a fierce battle against criminal gangs and insurgents in the northwest and central regions. These groups terrorize communities, carrying out mass kidnappings, killings, and looting. However, the growing number of military airstrikes mistakenly killing innocent civilians raises questions about operational efficiency and the collateral damage of counterterrorism efforts.
As Amnesty International and human rights organizations push for accountability, the bereaved families of Zakka village are left mourning yet another avoidable tragedy.
PIONEER NEWS 