In Kaduna state, northwest Nigeria, a devastating event unfolded during a Muslim religious celebration on Sunday, resulting in the accidental death of at least 85 civilians in an air strike, as reported by the local emergency management authority.
According to Governor Uba Sani, the casualties occurred when a military drone, aimed at targeting “terrorists and bandits,” mistakenly struck the gathering.
The defence ministry expressed regret, labeling the operation as a “needless tragedy.”
During the attack, dozens were wounded, and Samuel Aruwa, a state official, conveyed that Army Officer Maj VU Okoro explained the incident as an inadvertent effect on the community during a routine mission against terrorists.
In response, Defence Spokesman Maj Gen Edward Buba stated that the airstrike was based on credible intelligence about the presence of “terrorists” in the area.
Governor Sani has initiated an investigation into the “tragic incident,” which unfolded during a religious festival in the village of Tundun Biri.
The National Emergency Management Agency reported that 85 bodies have been buried so far, with search operations ongoing.
The casualties included children, women, and the elderly.
An eyewitness recounted two separate attacks, with the aircraft dropping a bomb at the festival venue, causing destruction and loss of lives.
The second bomb targeted those retrieving the bodies of the victims, resulting in additional casualties.
Describing the aftermath, a woman reported that bodies were scattered everywhere, with some women holding their babies in death.
The impact of the airstrike left a significant toll, with one witness stating the loss of 34 family members and 66 others injured.
This tragic incident adds to previous concerns about the Nigerian military causing civilian casualties while combating militia groups labeled as “bandits” in the northwest.
The government has classified these groups as “terrorists.”
In 2021, a Nigerian fighter jet strike accidentally killed at least 20 fishermen in the northeast, and a report by SB Morgen, a research firm, highlighted over 300 accidental strike-related deaths by Nigerian forces since 2017.
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