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Nigerian Military Airstrike in Zamfara Kills at Least 20 Civilians

Human rights monitors say the strike reflects recurring failures in Nigeria’s effort to curb bandit violence in the northwest

Map of Nigeria locating Zamfara state

Overview

  • Over the weekend, a Nigerian Air Force jet struck Maraya and Wabi villages in Zamfara state, killing at least 20 local vigilantes who were pursuing bandits.
  • Residents had requested military assistance after a bandit ambush, but the aircraft misidentified volunteer guards as attackers and opened fire.
  • Amnesty International condemned the operation as unlawful and called on Nigerian authorities to carry out a transparent investigation into the killings.
  • The incident follows a January airstrike in Tungar Kara that killed 16 civilians and a December 2022 jet bombing in Dansadau district that claimed more than 100 lives.
  • Persistent banditry across northwest Nigeria continues to challenge security forces seeking to distinguish armed gangs from civilian communities.