An airstrike by the Nigerian Air Force mistakenly struck members of the Zamfara Community Protection Guard (ZCPG), vigilantes, and residents in Tungar Kara, a community in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The incident was reported by Bakatsine, a banditry analyst in the region, who highlighted the tragic nature of the strike.
The tragic incident, which occurred yesterday evening, reportedly left at least 20 people dead.
The airstrike was said to have followed a bandit raid on the community.
After the bandits fled, local vigilantes and residents mobilized to defend the area but were inadvertently caught in the military operation.
Bakatsine, a banditry analyst residing in the Northwest disclosed on his Twitter page that 16 bodies had been recovered as of the time of reporting, while the total number of casualties remains uncertain due to ongoing recovery efforts.
“The airstrike was likely part of a military operation targeting bandit hideouts in the region,” Bakatsine stated.
“However, the unfortunate error has caused significant loss of life among those who were actively working to protect their community.”
Residents of Tungar Kara expressed anger and grief over the incident, calling for an investigation into how the strike was misdirected.
Many noted that the ZCPG and local vigilantes have been instrumental in combating banditry in the area, often stepping in where formal security forces are absent.
Efforts to contact military authorities for a statement on the incident were unsuccessful at the time of this report.
Also, the Nigerian military has yet to give any official statement on the incident.
Meanwhile, Bakatsine emphasized the need for improved intelligence and coordination in military operations to prevent similar tragedies.
The Tungar Kara incident underscores the complexities of counter-banditry operations in northwest Nigeria, where communities often rely on self-defence groups to fill security gaps.
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