00:00Residents in Zamfara State, one of the troubled states in Nigeria with frequent attacks on the locals by bandits have reported that not less than 20 vigilantes were killed apparently in error by the Nigerian Air Force fighter jet on Saturday when a group of vigilante members gave a chase to invading bandits who killed and abducted a lot of persons most especially farmers at Garinmani, Mariah and Wabi villages in Maru local government area of Zamfara State.
00:28This, an apparent military insider news media, Zagazola in its publication titled, Airstrike in Zamfara Kills Over 20 Bandits, but claims vigilante casualties, released on Monday, claimed that only 5 vigilante members were killed because the victims failed to follow operational guidelines of military joint operations, specifically, the probably pro-government and military news media stated that when the vigilantes were given signal to retreat,
00:57they failed to do so. According to the Zagazola media, the Nigerian army has confirmed that over 20 bandits were neutralized during a coordinated air interdiction operation in Mariah and Wabi villages of Maru local government area of Zamfara State, while four members of a local vigilante group were also affected in the attack.
01:18Zagazola Makama gathered from reliably sources that the airstrike, which occurred on Saturday, May 31, was followed by a ground exploitation mission on Saturday by troops of 1 Brigade Operation Fansen Yanma to assess the impact and conduct clearance operations in the area.
01:35The sources said that the interdiction inflicted significant losses on the terrorists, including the destruction of their motorcycles and equipment.
01:45During the exploitation on June 1, it was confirmed that over 20 bandits were neutralized and several motorcycles destroyed, the source stated.
01:53However, the source also confirmed that some number of vigilante personnel were mistakenly caught in the strike due to a failure to comply with withdrawal orders issued ahead of the operation.
02:06Unfortunately, five vigilante members were killed, while two others sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment in the hospital.
02:14A few others sustained minor injuries and did not require hospitalization, the source added.
02:20According to field reports, the leader of the vigilante group has accepted full responsibility for the casualties suffered by his men, stating that they disregarded earlier instructions to withdraw from the outskirts of the village ahead of the airstrike.
02:35He admitted that despite being informed of the imminent air operation, some of the vigilante youths insisted on pursuing the fleeing bandits and were still within the target area when the aircraft struck, the military source said.
02:48Zagazola learned that the interdiction was part of intensified counterterrorism efforts by troops under Operation Hadar and Darji to degrade the operational capacity of armed groups terrorizing communities across Zamfara and neighboring states.
03:03The sources said that the military has consistently warned local security outfits and civilian volunteers to adhere strictly to operational guidelines and instructions during joint operations to prevent unintended casualties.
03:16The latest operation comes amid renewed efforts by the Nigerian armed forces to stabilize rural areas ahead of the farming season and restore civil authority in volatile communities across the northwest.
03:30Saharae reporters also reported that the Nigerian military fighter jet has mistakenly struck and killed about 20 men of a vigilante group during an operation targeting bandits in Garanmani, a village in the Maru local government area of Zamfara state.
03:45The tragic incident occurred after armed bandits attacked the village, killing several residents and abducting over 50 others, mostly farmers who were working on their fields.
03:57Eyewitnesses said the attackers stormed the area on motorcycles around noon, shooting indiscriminately and causing widespread panic.
04:04In response, local vigilante groups mobilized and began chasing the fleeing assailants.
04:11However, a military aircraft deployed to the scene allegedly misidentified the vigilantes as bandits and launched airstrikes on them.
04:19We were pursuing the bandits when we saw the fighter jet approaching, one of the vigilantes told BBC Hauser.
04:26It flew very low and started bombing us. Some of us survived by pretending we had been hit.
04:33When the jet left, we got up and fled to safety.
04:36Another resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the incident and expressed disappointment over the lack of communication from the military.
04:45We understand it was an unfortunate mistake, but the military should acknowledge what happened and reach out to the victims' families, he said.
04:54He also appealed to the government to deploy additional troops to the area, as the bandits had threatened to return.
05:00This is not the first time such an incident has occurred.
05:04In January, an airstrike mistakenly killed 16 people, including vigilantes, in Tungakara, also in Zamfara.
05:14Similarly, in December last year, 10 residents of Gidenbisa in Sokato state were killed in a misdirected airstrike.
05:21As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian military has yet to issue an official statement on the latest incident, Sahara Reporters News report ends in quotes.
05:32Abu Bakr Lawal, a Facebook user said,
05:36You know what happened in Zamfara?
05:38If not, then let me tell you.
05:41Bandits attacked a village in Maru and abducted 50 people.
05:44Hearing this, the vigilantes went to rescue the people who were kidnapped, but the Nigerian Air Force had another plan.
05:52They mistakenly bombed the vigilantes, resulting in the death of 20 of them, and many feared injured.
05:58Now I have a question, since this is the second time this is happening.
06:03The Nigeria Air Force cannot differentiate between bandits or vigilantes or is there anything they are not telling us?
06:10Another Facebook user, Godai Jr. also said that,
06:14I don't see this as a mistake anymore.
06:18This is the fifth time, in less than three years, I think.
06:22How many more mistakes will they make before they learn?
