A military airstrike intended for armed gangs in Tungar Kara, Zamfara state, tragically claimed the lives of 15 civilians last Saturday, according to local residents. Among the dead were vigilantes preparing to confront the gangs, along with bystanders.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), which has intensified aerial campaigns against violent bandits across the northwest and central regions, denies targeting civilians but has pledged to investigate the incident.
“From Protectors to Victims”
Salihu Usman, a local vigilante, was among those injured in the strike. “I was praying when I heard the jet. Seconds later, I was on the ground with injuries across my body,” he recounted. Distrust now clouds his view of the military. “Bandits kill us, and now the military bombs us. How are we to feel safe?”
The attack has deepened skepticism in Tungar Kara, with residents like farmer Haliru Attahiru questioning the military’s intentions. “Why bomb the town and not the forest where the bandits are?”
A Pattern of Tragedy
This incident mirrors December’s deadly airstrike in Sokoto state, where 10 civilians were killed in what authorities later admitted was a mistake. Such events are straining public confidence in the military’s operations, analysts warn.
“If civilians feel they are collateral damage in these campaigns, it will erode their trust and support for the military,” said Oluwole Ojewale of the Institute for Security Studies.
Civilians Bear the Brunt
For Usman, the trauma is too fresh to return to vigilante work. “I can’t help but wonder if this was deliberate,” he said, reflecting the growing frustration of communities caught between bandit violence and military airstrikes.
The NAF has not provided further comment but emphasized its commitment to investigating the Zamfara incident. Meanwhile, the people of Tungar Kara remain trapped in a cycle of violence, with little faith in either side.