At least 20 vigilantes were mistakenly killed by a Nigerian military fighter jet during an operation targeting bandits in Zamfara State. The tragic incident occurred in Garin Mani village, Maru Local Government Area, following an attack that left several residents dead and over 50 farmers abducted.
Eyewitnesses reported that bandits arrived on motorcycles around noon, indiscriminately opening fire and causing widespread panic. Local vigilante groups mobilized to pursue the fleeing attackers. However, a military aircraft deployed to the scene misidentified the vigilantes as bandits and launched airstrikes against them.
One vigilante told BBC Hausa, “We were pursuing the bandits when we saw the fighter jet approaching. It flew very low and started bombing us. Some of us survived by pretending we had been hit. When the jet left, we got up and fled to safety.” Another resident expressed disappointment over the military’s lack of communication and called for acknowledgment of the mistake and support for victims’ families.
This is not the first such incident in Zamfara. In January 2025, an airstrike mistakenly killed 16 people, including vigilantes, in Tungar Kara, Zamfara. Similarly, in December 2024, 10 residents of Gidan Bisa in Sokoto State died in a misdirected airstrike.
The Nigerian Air Force stated that the operation was based on intelligence indicating that bandits were massing to attack communities. Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame said the airstrike destroyed 21 motorcycles used by militants and prevented a planned attack. He acknowledged that two vigilantes were killed and two injured in the crossfire.
Human rights organizations like Amnesty International have condemned repeated airstrikes on villages, calling them “reckless” and “unlawful.” Locals have urged the government to deploy more troops to the area as bandits continue to threaten a return.
As of now, the Nigerian military has not issued an official statement addressing the recent incident. The tragic event highlights the ongoing challenges in combating banditry in northwest Nigeria and the risks posed to civilians and local defense groups during military operations.
