BAUCHI, Nigeria: At least 100 civilians were killed in a Nigerian military airstrike on a crowded market in northwest Zamfara State, Amnesty International said on Tuesday, calling for an immediate and independent investigation into the incident.
The airstrike reportedly struck the remote Tumfa market in Zurmi district. It is the second deadly strike in less than a month to hit a busy market in northern Nigeria.
Amnesty International said dozens of injured people are being treated in hospitals in Zurmi and nearby Shinkafi, adding that many of the victims were women and girls.
The Nigerian military has not yet responded to requests for comment. However, it has previously denied targeting civilians, stating that its air operations are intelligence-led and aimed solely at militant positions.
According to witnesses cited by Amnesty, military jets were seen hovering over the area around midday before returning approximately two hours later and striking the crowded marketplace.
The latest incident follows a similar airstrike in April, when around 200 civilians were reportedly killed at a weekly market in Jilli, northeastern Nigeria. Authorities had announced an investigation into that earlier attack.
Residents in northern regions have expressed growing concern over repeated civilian casualties linked to military operations against armed groups.
Nigeria’s military has been conducting operations against bandit groups in the northwest and fighting a 17-year-long Islamist insurgency in the northeast.
In a separate development, US forces reportedly struck alleged militant bases in northern Nigeria on Christmas Day last year, following accusations by then-President Donald Trump regarding the protection of religious communities.
Amnesty International condemned the airstrike, stating that such incidents reflect a disturbing pattern of human rights violations and disregard for civilian lives, and urged authorities to ensure accountability.
