A recent airstrike in Nigeria’s northwestern Zamfara state claimed the lives of at least 33 villagers, according to witnesses and local leaders.
The strike occurred on April 10 during a military operation targeting kidnapping gangs and their hideouts. Despite military claims that the airstrikes targeted armed groups, residents of Dogon Daji village in Maradun, Zamfara, refute the presence of such groups in their area.
Lawali Ango, the traditional leader of Dogon Daji, reported witnessing the attack while away preparing for Eid prayers. Upon returning, he found his village devastated, with numerous casualties trapped under collapsed buildings.
Surajo Abubakar, a farmer from the village, recounted losing seven family members in the airstrike, including two wives and five children.
While the military maintains that airstrikes are conducted based on intelligence and surveillance to target terrorists, civilians continue to suffer the consequences.
This incident follows previous instances where civilian casualties occurred due to military airstrikes, raising concerns about the impact of military operations on innocent lives in Nigeria’s conflict zones.
