Badamasi Bello, Jadetimes Staff
B. Bello is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Nigerian News
Reports from Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State have confirmed the burial of 17 members of a vigilante group mistakenly killed in an airstrike allegedly conducted by a Nigerian military aircraft. The funeral took place in Tungar Kara village, leaving the community in mourning.
A resident of Kuye, who spoke under anonymity, disclosed that the victims were members of the civilian JTF and that 17 of them have been buried while several others are still in hospitals for injuries sustained in the attack.
Details of Incident
The tragedy occurred on Saturday evening when a plane said to be from the Nigerian military reportedly mistook the vigilante group for bandits after they tried to repel the attack in Tungar Kara. Witnesses said the vigilantes were chasing away animals that had been left by the fleeing bandits when the airstrike happened.
In tears, the resident who refused to be named after losing his brother in the incident gave an account:
"We saw the plane heading to the area where the gunmen had been, but by then the bandits had already left. The plane began firing on the people below, mistaking them for criminals. My brother's son is among those killed. It is heart-breaking."
Military and Government Reactions
Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi, a spokesman for Operation Fansar Yamma, which oversees security operations in Nigeria's northwestern region, promised to investigate the incident and provide updates. Similarly, Sulaiman Bala Idris, a spokesperson for the Zamfara State Governor, also confirmed that investigations are underway.
A state government official, who sought anonymity, also confirmed the airstrike to the BBC but refused to give further details.
History of Similar Incidents
This is the first mistaken airstrike so far in 2025, but such tragedies have happened in the past. In December 2024, a similar incident in Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State claimed the lives of 10 civilians when a military jet mistakenly fired on them.
Community Outcry
This has caused anger and sadness for the affected communities now wanting greater caution in such military operations to prevent further losses of innocent lives. This incident has exposed one of the problems of not knowing who the real armed groups or mere vigilantes are. The investigations would have just begun, and explanations will be expected by families of the victims and the general public for assurance that this will not happen again.
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