Pandemonium in Zamfara as military airstrike targeting bandits mistakenly kills 20 vigilantes

A tragic incident unfolded in Zamfara State on Sunday after a Nigerian military fighter jet mistakenly bombed a group of local vigilantes, killing about 20 of them during an operation intended to target bandits in Garin Mani village, Maru Local Government Area.

According to eyewitness reports, the attack came shortly after armed bandits stormed the farming community, killing several residents and abducting over 50 people, mostly farmers who were working on their farmlands.

Survivors recounted that the bandits arrived on motorcycles around midday, shooting sporadically and causing chaos across the village.

In a swift response, local vigilantes mobilised to chase after the attackers in an attempt to recover the kidnapped victims and protect their community.

However, tragedy struck when a military aircraft deployed to the area allegedly mistook the vigilante group for the bandits they were pursuing and opened fire on them.

“We were pursuing the bandits when the fighter jet appeared overhead,” one of the vigilantes told BBC Hausa. “It flew very low and began bombing us. Some of us survived by pretending to be dead. When the jet left, we managed to escape.”

Another local resident, who preferred anonymity, confirmed the devastating incident and expressed frustration over the silence from military authorities. “We know it was a mistake, but the military needs to acknowledge what happened and contact the families of the victims,” he said.

This is not the first time the region has witnessed such a mishap. In January this year, a similar airstrike mistakenly killed 16 people, including vigilantes, in Tungar Kara, Zamfara State. In December 2024, another incident claimed the lives of 10 residents in Gidan Bisa, Sokoto State.

As of the time of this report, the Nigerian military is yet to release an official statement addressing the latest tragedy.