A devastating military air strike on the Tumfa weekly market in the Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State has left a reported death toll of at least 72 people, with Amnesty International suggesting the figure may exceed 100.
Witnesses and community leaders described a scene of absolute carnage on Sunday, reporting that some victims were “blown beyond recognition” as the strike hit a crowded area frequented by residents and bandits alike.
Among the dead were reportedly young girls selling millet porridge and tofu, caught in the crossfire of an operation targeting insurgent elements in a market frequently controlled by local gangs.
Amnesty International has called for an immediate and transparent investigation into the strike, condemning what it described as “reckless attacks on civilians” in the conflict-torn northern region.
The human rights organization noted that one nearby village buried 80 victims in a single ceremony, while dozens of survivors with horrific injuries were evacuated to hospitals in Zurmi, Shinkafa, and Gusau.
This incident reportedly coincided with another Nigerian Air Force operation in Niger State on the same day, which allegedly claimed the lives of 13 additional civilians, further intensifying concerns over the humanitarian cost of the military’s aerial campaign.
Despite the mounting reports from survivors and rights groups, the Nigerian military has firmly denied claims of civilian casualties.
Defence Headquarters spokesperson, Michael Onoja, dismissed the reports from Zamfara as “not true” and maintained a similar stance regarding the incident in Niger State, though he noted the latter would be investigated.
The military continues to assert that its operations are precision-targeted at neutralizing bandits and terrorists who have long terrorized the rural populace, maintaining that the scene at Tumfa market was part of a legitimate effort to dismantle insurgent strongholds.
Amidst the outcry, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, reaffirmed the military’s unwavering commitment to defending the constitution and addressing national insecurity.
Speaking via a representative at a workshop in Makurdi, Shaibu emphasized that the army’s success against terrorism and banditry is rooted in professional transformation and improved personnel welfare.
While he lauded the support of President Bola Tinubu and praised the “jointness” of security operations, the COAS’s remarks focused on long-term capacity building and infrastructure, offering a stark contrast to the immediate, bloody fallout reported on the ground in Zamfara.
