Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has clarified that the recent military airstrike in the state, which claimed the lives of over 16 residents, was unintentional.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, he expressed condolences to the affected families and explained the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“It was not intentional. It happened during the operation to combat bandits in the area,” Lawal stated.
He revealed that the Chief of Air Staff had dispatched a committee to investigate the incident and offer condolences to the state government and victims’ families.
The team also conducted an on-site assessment to determine what went wrong and to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Lawal admitted he had personally requested military intervention to neutralize bandits who were attacking the Tungar Kara community in Maradun Local Government Area before the tragedy occurred.
He expressed confidence in the military’s ability to address the banditry problem effectively, stating, “The military can tackle bandits’ activities within one month.”
The governor also warned that the days of notorious bandit leader Bello Turji are numbered, promising that the criminal would soon face the same fate as other eliminated bandits.
The tragic airstrike on January 11 adds to a series of incidents involving civilian casualties during military operations.
The Nigerian Air Force has deployed a fact-finding team to investigate the Tungar Kara strike and held discussions with Governor Lawal on Tuesday at the Government House in Gusau.
Banditry has plagued northwestern and central Nigeria, with armed groups raiding villages, destroying homes, and abducting residents for ransom.
The region has also seen several accidental airstrikes in recent years.
In December 2024, a Christmas Day airstrike killed at least 10 civilians in Sokoto State.
In 2023, a strike targeting bandits mistakenly killed 85 civilians, mostly women and children, during a religious gathering in Kaduna State.
A similar incident in January 2017 resulted in the deaths of at least 112 displaced persons near the Cameroonian border.
The Zamfara State government, alongside security operatives, continues to strategize on addressing the insecurity and preventing further tragedies during military operations.