Nigerian Airstrike Hits Zamfara Market, Resulting in Civilian Casualties

In a tragic incident in Nigeria’s northwest Zamfara state, at least 100 civilians lost their lives due to a military airstrike targeting the bustling Tumfa market, Amnesty International reported on Tuesday. The organization has called for an urgent investigation into the incident.

This devastating airstrike, which occurred Sunday in the remote Zurmi district, marks the second time in a month that a crowded market in northern Nigeria has been hit, resulting in numerous casualties.

According to Amnesty, medical facilities in Zurmi and the nearby town of Shinkafi are treating dozens of wounded individuals. Many victims in this latest strike were women and girls.

While the Nigerian military has yet to provide a comment, it has consistently maintained that its airstrikes are guided by intelligence and designed to target only terrorist entities, not civilians.

Eyewitnesses told Amnesty that military jets were observed circling the area around midday and returned approximately two hours later to carry out the strike on the crowded market.

This recent tragedy follows a similar incident in April when an airstrike claimed the lives of about 200 people at a weekly market in Jilli, located in northeastern Nigeria, prompting the military to initiate an investigation.

The frequency of civilian casualties in military actions has heightened concerns among residents in Nigeria’s northern regions. The Nigerian military is engaged in ongoing operations against banditry in the northwest and combating a 17-year Islamist insurgency in the northeast. Notably, the United States conducted strikes on alleged Islamist bases in northwestern Nigeria on Christmas Day last year, following former President Donald Trump’s accusations that Nigeria was failing to protect its Christian population.

Amnesty International has condemned these airstrikes as unlawful, arguing that they reveal a troubling disregard for civilian life. “This pattern of human rights violation is increasingly becoming the norm, with villagers at the receiving end of atrocities by both armed groups, bandits, and the military,” Amnesty stated.

The call for accountability and investigation underscores the urgent need to address the cycle of violence affecting Nigeria’s vulnerable communities.