Zamfara consoles victims’ families as military airstrike kills 16 civilians in Tungar Kara

Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal, has expressed deep condolences to the families of civilian casualties affected by a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) airstrike at Tungar Kara in Zurmi LGA of the state.

The civilian casualties, about 16 in number, were mistakenly killed on Saturday evening by the airstrike shortly after armed bandits raided the area and fled. They were members of the local vigilante, the Zamfara Community Protection Guard (ZCPG), who were defending their community against the attackers. They were, however, mistakenly identified as bandits fleeing from Gidan Makera in the Boko district of Zurmi LGA.

In a statement issued on Sunday in Gusau, the spokesperson for the Zamfara governor, Sulaiman Bala Idris, regretted that some members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) and local vigilantes were affected during the NAF operation in Tungar Kara, resulting in the loss of lives.

The statement commended the Nigerian military’s efforts in the renewed onslaught against bandits in the state.

“We have received multiple positive reports of precision strikes carried out by the Air Component of Operation Fansar Yamma over the weekend in troubled Maradun and Zurmi local government areas,” the government said.

“This intervention by the military has significantly degraded the operational capacity of the bandits and has shown the commitment of the Nigeria Air Force to carrying out its constitutional mandate of protecting civilians and safeguarding the lives and property of the people.

“As a responsible government, we assure all the people of the state that the Government of Zamfara State remains steadfast in its resolve to sustain the gains made in the fight against banditry and related criminalities. The recent success indicates that the collaborative efforts between the state and federal security agencies yield positive results.

“In light of these achievements, the state government reaffirms its commitment to providing all necessary support to the Nigerian Air Force and other security agencies to sustain their operations and bring lasting peace to the state.

“We will continue to offer support to enhance intelligence sharing, provide logistics, and strengthen community engagement, all in the spirit of a comprehensive approach to security and achieving the ultimate goal of restoring normalcy across all parts of the state,” it said.

The state government extended its heartfelt condolences to the families of the JTF personnel killed in the airstrike and assured them that the sacrifices of the deceased would not go in vain, pledging to provide necessary support and assistance to the bereaved families.

The government also called on the people to be vigilant, report all suspicious activities, and cooperate fully with security personnel.

“Through collective effort and unity of purpose, the fight against banditry can be won, bringing enduring peace and stability to Zamfara State,” it said.

The Nigerian Air Force had earlier on Sunday released a statement detailing the success of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, a coordinated air-ground assault targeting the stronghold of notorious bandit leader Kachallah Bello Turji at Fakai Hills.

In the statement, spokesperson for the Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, highlighted the operation’s success in neutralizing scores of bandits and freeing several kidnapped victims.

The Air Force described the mission as a significant step toward restoring peace and security in Zamfara State.

However, coming shortly after the December 25 bombing of two villages in a raid targeting jihadists in Sokoto State, the Zamfara incident is raising concerns over the accidental bombing of civilians in the military’s battle against jihadists and bandits in Nigeria’s North-East and North-West regions.

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