At least 85 civilians were killed in an air strike during a Muslim religious celebration in Kaduna state, Nigeria, on Sunday. The attack was attributed to a “bombing mishap” by a military drone targeting terrorists and bandits. State Governor Uba Sani claimed the civilians were “mistakenly killed” by the drone. Dozens were also wounded. The defense ministry called the operation a “needless tragedy,” stating that a routine mission against militants “inadvertently affected members of the community.”
Nigeria’s military has been battling armed criminals and militants who have been operating in parts of northern Nigeria, raiding villages and kidnapping residents for ransom. Defence spokesman Maj Gen Edward Buba stated that Sunday’s airstrike was based on credible intelligence about the presence of “terrorists” in the area. President Tinubu has called for a thorough and full-fledged investigation into the incident and calls for calm while authorities look diligently into the mishap.
The Nigerian military has been accused of causing civilian casualties in the north-west region, with estimates ranging from 30 to over 85, as they battle militia gangs, known as bandits, which have previously caused similar incidents. The government has labeled the gangs “terrorists.” In 2021, at least 20 fishermen were accidentally killed in a Nigerian fighter jet strike on a jihadist camp in north-east Nigeria.
