Zamfara Airstrike: 72 Feared Dead as Military, Amnesty Disagree on Death Toll

Zamfara Airstrike: 72 Feared Dead as Military, Amnesty Disagree on Death Toll

At least 72 people were reportedly killed after a Nigerian military airstrike hit Tumfa weekly market in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State on Sunday, in an incident that has triggered conflicting accounts from residents, human rights groups, and the military.

According to AFP, which quoted a local community leader, the actual number of casualties remains difficult to confirm due to the presence of both civilians and armed groups in the area.

“The actual death toll is hard to establish at the moment. Everybody, residents and bandits, goes to the market. People are at the mercy of the bandits. There is nothing they can do,” the community leader, Garba Ibrahim Mashema, was quoted as saying.

Reports indicate that Tumfa market is located in a region frequently affected by banditry and is believed by some security sources to be under the influence of armed groups, raising concerns about the complexity of identifying combatants during military operations.

Eyewitness accounts claim that many of the victims included traders, women, and young girls selling food items such as millet porridge and tofu when the airstrike occurred.

Human rights organisation Amnesty International, however, gave a higher casualty figure, saying more than 100 people may have died. The group also alleged that one nearby village buried about 80 victims in a mass burial following the attack.

Amnesty International described the incident as part of a disturbing pattern of civilian harm during military operations in Nigeria’s conflict-affected northern region, calling for an urgent independent investigation.

“The authorities must investigate these deadly strikes, and put an end to reckless attacks on civilians,” the organisation said.
“These horrific deaths must not be overlooked. The devastated survivors and their families deserve truth, justice and reparations.”

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The group also alleged that injured survivors were rushed to hospitals in Zurmi, Shinkafi, and the Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital in Gusau for treatment.

It further stated that the market was struck without warning while it was crowded, causing panic and chaos.

“Military aircraft bombed the weekly market. At one point, it was full of people and without warning. The scene was chaotic. There were screams, blood, and bodies all over the ground,” Amnesty said.

In contrast, the Nigerian military has strongly denied allegations that civilians were deliberately targeted or that the airstrike resulted in mass civilian casualties.

Defence Headquarters spokesperson, Michael Onoja, told AFP that reports claiming civilian deaths in Zamfara were “not true,” while insisting that military operations are intelligence-driven and targeted at armed bandits.

The military also acknowledged a separate air operation in Niger State on the same day, which reportedly led to the death of 13 civilians. Officials said the incident would be investigated, although they maintained that the mission was aimed at criminal elements.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has meanwhile reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to defending the constitution and intensifying operations against terrorism, banditry, and other security threats across the country.

Speaking at the opening of the Nigerian Army Project Management Workshop at the Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering (NASME), Makurdi, Shaibu—represented by Maj.-Gen. Moses Gara—said ongoing military reforms and welfare improvements are boosting troop morale and operational efficiency.

He praised President Bola Tinubu for what he described as sustained support to the armed forces, noting that improved welfare packages have strengthened soldiers’ readiness in counterterrorism operations nationwide.

According to him, the army’s infrastructure drive includes rehabilitation of barracks, construction of training facilities, medical centres, and other critical installations aimed at improving personnel welfare and operational capacity.

Security analysts say the Zamfara incident highlights the persistent challenge of conducting air operations in regions where armed groups operate within civilian-populated communities, making target identification extremely difficult.

The tragedy has sparked renewed national debate over civilian protection, military intelligence accuracy, and accountability in Nigeria’s counterinsurgency operations, especially in the North-West where banditry remains widespread.

As investigations continue, human rights groups and affected communities are demanding transparency, compensation for victims’ families, and stricter safeguards to prevent future civilian casualties during military strikes.

Zamfara Airstrike: 72 Feared Dead as Military, Amnesty Disagree on Death Toll