16 Civilians Killed in Nigerian Military Airstrike Error

The incident marks the second fatal error in recent weeks, as it follows a December 25 bombing in Sokoto state, where airstrikes targeting jihadists instead struck two villages, killing civilians.

Residents from several neighboring villages had mobilized to defend Dangebe village, which had been attacked by gunmen believed to be part of the region's notorious criminal gangs, known as "bandits." The bandits had raided the village, stealing livestock, burning homes, and terrorizing residents. In response, locals formed a defensive group to confront the attackers, only to be bombed by a military jet as they returned to their villages.

Sa'idu Ibrahim, a local resident, described how the airstrike hit the group as they reached Tungar Kara village. "The group was coming back after chasing off the bandits who attacked Dangebe when the fighter jet struck," Ibrahim said. "We recovered 16 bodies, and several others were severely injured and taken to the hospital."

Bube Namare, another resident, added that 16 bodies had been found, though he feared the death toll could rise as a search continued. "We are still searching for more victims," he said.

The residents of Dangebe had contacted neighboring villages for assistance after the bandits launched their attack, burning homes and abducting livestock, said Namare.

Lieutenant-Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi, a military spokesman, did not respond to requests for comment on the airstrike. Amnesty International, which has called for an impartial investigation, has estimated the death toll at 20. The rights organization condemned the attack, urging Nigerian authorities to urgently probe the incident.

This tragic event is not an isolated case. The Nigerian military has faced criticism for similar errors during its ongoing battle against jihadists and bandits in the country's northwest and northeast. In December 2023, a military airstrike mistakenly targeted a Muslim religious gathering in Kaduna state, killing at least 85 people, mostly women and children. In January 2017, a fighter jet struck a camp for internally displaced persons in Rann, near the Cameroon border, killing at least 112 people, mostly civilians.

The growing number of such incidents has raised alarms about the conduct of military operations in civilian areas, with calls for greater accountability and more careful targeting to avoid further civilian casualties.