Overview

• A Nigerian airstrike in Tungar Kara, Zamfara State, misidentified local vigilantes and farmers as bandits, resulting in civilian casualties.
• Reports from residents suggest at least 15 to 20 people were killed, with over 30 others injured in the incident.
• The Nigerian Air Force announced a comprehensive investigation but has faced criticism for a lack of transparency in past cases of civilian deaths during operations.
• Since 2017, military airstrikes in Nigeria have reportedly caused the deaths of approximately 400 civilians, including 80 killed in a 2023 religious gathering in Kaduna State.
• Rights groups and local leaders have urged President Bola Tinubu and military officials to reform operational protocols and ensure accountability to prevent further civilian harm.