At least 20 people have reportedly been killed in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State following a deadly combination of a bandit att...
At least 20 people have reportedly been killed in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State following a deadly combination of a bandit attack and a military airstrike meant to repel the assailants.
According to local residents, heavily
armed bandits on motorcycles invaded Mani village in broad daylight on Sunday,
attacking farmers who were working on their lands. Eyewitnesses said the
attackers opened fire on civilians, abducted more than 50 people—including
women and children—and sparked widespread panic.
In response to distress calls, a
Nigerian military aircraft was reportedly deployed to the area. However, in a
tragic twist, the airstrike allegedly struck farmers and vigilantes who were
attempting to resist the bandits or rescue those abducted. Villagers claim the
aircraft mistakenly targeted them, resulting in additional fatalities.
A resident recounted: “The gunmen
took 50 people, and the military plane was on its way when we saw it
descending. After spotting us, it started shooting, and everyone ran for their
lives. Some of us lay on the ground pretending to be dead to escape the
bullets.”
Another local told the BBC that the
community is now living in fear, as the bandits have threatened to return. He
appealed to the government for more security forces but urged caution to avoid
further civilian casualties.
“We informed the security personnel
after the attack, but it was only later that the plane came and started
bombing,” he said. “We need protection, but the soldiers must verify their
targets. They sometimes hit innocent people.”
The Nigerian military has not yet
issued a statement regarding the incident.
This tragedy adds to a disturbing
pattern of mistaken airstrikes in the region. In January 2025, 16 people were
killed in Tungar Kara village, Zamfara, when a military aircraft targeting
bandits reportedly hit civilians.
A similar incident occurred in
December 2024 in Sokoto State, where a drone strike killed 10 civilians in what
authorities later described as an accidental bombing.
Civil society groups and human
rights advocates have called for an immediate, transparent investigation into
the latest incident, emphasising the need for better intelligence and
accountability in military operations targeting criminal elements.
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