The Nigerian Air Force is launching an investigation after an air strike in Zamfara state reportedly killed at least 15 people.
An airstrike targeting criminal gangs in northwestern Nigeria has accidentally killed civilians, according to officials and reports citing locals.
In a statement on Sunday, the Zamfara State Governor’s spokesman said the Nigerian Air Force targeted so-called bandits killing villagers and carrying out mass kidnappings in Maradun and Zurmi local government areas over the weekend.
“Unfortunately, some members of the Civilian Joint Task Force and local vigilantes were affected during the operation in Tungar Kara,” said Sulaiman Bala Idris.
He added that members of local self-defense groups were “misidentified as bandits fleeing the area in Zurmi.”
Officials have not given an exact death toll, but resident Salisu Maradun was quoted by The Associated Press as saying they had counted up to 20 bodies while 10 others were being treated for injuries. Residents also told Reuters that at least 15 civilians, including local security forces, were killed.
The Air Force said it had launched a “comprehensive investigation” into the incident and vowed to work to “minimize and mitigate any harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure.”
It added that its operation “successfully eliminated several bandits and resulted in the recovery of some kidnap victims.”
In recent years, the air force has increasingly used air strikes against armed groups and gangs in northwest and central Nigeria.
However, the airstrikes have mistakenly killed civilians on several occasions, including in December 2023, when more than 80 civilians were killed during a religious gathering in northern Kaduna state.
According to Lagos-based research firm SBM Intelligence, military airstrikes have killed around 400 civilians since 2017.
