Nigeria: dozens of civilians killed in army airstrikes targeting criminal gangs

The Nigerian army killed at least 72 people, including many civilians, during a bombing on the busy Tumfa market in Zamfara state (northwest), Garba Ibrahim Mashema said, adding that some bodies were “unrecognizable†.

“Residents of the communities of Kwashabawa, Birane, Kware, Gangara and Manawa were affected by the strike,” added this community leader.

“So far, we have collected 72 bodies” and “the injured were transported to hospitals in the towns of Zurmi and Shinkafi,” he said.

“Their stronghold, their territory”

The Nigerian branch of Amnesty International reported “at least 100 civilians” killed, while Aliyu Musa, a resident of the town, put the death toll at 117.

“117 bodies were recovered and more than 80 people were injured. The numbers could increase as the situation becomes clearer,” he said.

“To be frank, the Tumfa market is under the control of bandits. It is their stronghold: anyone who goes there knows that they are entering their territory,” stressed Aliyu Musa.

In a statement on Sunday, the army said it had carried out ground and air operations “following credible intelligence indicating a high-level meeting of notorious terrorist leaders and commanders” in this region.

“Intelligence reports confirmed that the terrorists had gathered at a concealed location in Tumfa village” and one strike “successfully destroyed the structure serving as a gathering point for the terrorists,” she added.

Military air strikes

The general of the division Michael Onoja, spokesperson of the état-major of the Defense, to qualifié of « fausses » the informations faisant état of civils tués in the État of Zamfara.

Like several other states in northwestern and central Nigeria, Zamfara has for years been plagued by violence from armed criminal groups locally called “bandits”, specializing in cattle theft and kidnapping for ransom.

These groups, without any stated ideology, regularly carry out bloody raids in villages, kill residents, burn down houses after having looted them.

These are armed groups which have sometimes confronted jihadists, but also collaborated with them against common targets.

During the same day on Sunday, at least 13 civilians were killed by an army airstrike in Niger state (north-central), residents said, with the army claiming to have targeted “terrorists”. “.

“It wasn’t intentional. I offer my condolences to the families of the victims, we apologize to them for what happened,” said Shiroro Local Government Area Council Chairman Isyaku Bawa.

A resident, John Ezra, of Kusasu village, said the villagers “were not close to the terrorists’ hideout, but our houses were bombed.”

“Bandits” also killed 30 travelers on Sunday on the Magami-Dansadu road axis, in the same state of Zamfara, according to a security report prepared for the UN.

Information concerning the results of the operations of the Nigerian army and the attacks of the armed groups it fights often takes several days to emerge from isolated rural areas.

In the past, airstrikes have already cost the lives of civilians in Nigeria. The ensuing investigations generally produce no concrete results.