Family Members Feared Killed in NAF Air Strike in Katsina
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu
February 18, 2025
Tragedy struck in Katsina state on Saturday when a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jet reportedly killed six members of a family in an airstrike targeting armed gangs in the region.
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According to sources close to Democracy Newsline Newspaper, the airstrike occurred on the outskirts of Zakka village, in Safana district, when the jet dropped a bomb on a cluster of huts.
The attack was part of a broader operation aimed at eliminating bandits, who had earlier launched an assault on a security base.
This bandit attack resulted in the deaths of two police officers and a vigilante.
However, in the aftermath of the airstrike, local reports emerged that the bomb had unintentionally claimed the lives of innocent civilians, including the six members of a single family.
Amnesty International responded to the incident by expressing concern over the rising number of civilian casualties in recent military operations.
The organization reported a death toll of at least 10 people and called for an “impartial, transparent and immediate investigation” into the airstrike.
Amnesty highlighted that the Nigerian military must do more to ensure the safety of civilians, emphasizing that “airstrikes with high numbers of unlawful killings have become the latest in a long list of gross human rights violations perpetrated by the Nigerian military.”
In light of the growing number of civilian deaths, Amnesty International urged the Nigerian authorities to issue clear directives to the military, stressing the importance of prioritizing and respecting human rights during military operations.
When contacted for a statement, Olusola Akinboyewa, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Air Force, confirmed that the incident was being investigated. He assured that a formal statement would be issued shortly to address the situation.
This airstrike is the latest in a series of similar incidents involving civilian casualties in military operations against suspected terrorists.
In December 2023, Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), had vowed that airstrikes would no longer result in civilian deaths. He emphasized that the role of the military is to protect the people of Nigeria, not to harm them.
Despite these assurances, just a month earlier in January 2025, another airstrike in Zamfara state killed more than 16 residents in what was described as an “accidental” attack.
The events in Katsina highlight the ongoing challenges faced by the Nigerian military in its efforts to combat insecurity while safeguarding civilians, as the country grapples with the complexities of addressing armed banditry and terrorism in the region.
