Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has clarified that the recent military airstrike in the North-Western state was not intentional. Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Lawal expressed deep regret over the incident that led to the death of over 16 residents in Tungar Kara, Maradun Local Government Area of the state.
“It was not intentional. It was in the process of fighting these bandits (that) they were struck,” Lawal said. He added that the Chief of Air Staff has set up a committee to visit Zamfara and conduct an on-the-spot assessment to determine the cause and ensure such incidents do not happen again.
The governor revealed that he had prior knowledge of the military operation, having personally invited the Air Force to neutralize bandits attacking the region. Lawal expressed confidence in the military’s capability to eliminate banditry, noting that the notorious bandit leader Bello Turji’s days are numbered.
The incident occurred on January 11, when the airstrike tore through the Tungar Kara community, killing innocent residents. Security forces have been battling banditry in north-west and central Nigeria, with numerous raids and attacks taking place in recent months.
Worried by the escalation, the Nigerian Air Force dispatched a fact-finding team to investigate the tragedy and meet with the state government to assess the situation and prevent future occurrences.
This airstrike tragedy follows other similar incidents, including a Christmas Day attack in Sokoto state, which resulted in civilian casualties. In 2023, dozens of civilians, mostly women and children, were killed in an airstrike in Kaduna, mistakenly targeting bandits.
The Zamfara state government has called for improved precision in military operations to ensure civilian lives are not lost in the fight against banditry.
