Communities demand compensation as North accidental bombings kill 528

Amid intensified counter-terrorism operations by the Federal Government, accidental airstrikes by the Nigerian military have resulted in the deaths of no fewer than 528 civilians between 2017 and December 2024, findings by Saturday PUNCH have shown.

Of the reported fatalities, approximately 341 occurred during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, while 187 deaths were recorded in four major incidents under the current administration of President Bola Tinubu.

Findings showed that no fewer than 425 civilians, including women and children, lost their lives in military accidental bombings between September 2017 and 2023.

Sokoto accidental airstrike, avoidable loss of lives, says gov Credit: X| Ahmedaliyuskt

The recurring incidents have sparked concerns over operational lapses and calls for stricter measures to safeguard civilian lives during military operations.

Some of the incidents include the killing of about 52 people on January 17, 2017, while 120 others sustained injuries after a Nigerian Air Force jet accidentally bombed an Internally Displaced Persons’ camp in Rann, Borno State.

On December 4, 2017, the military allegedly sent a fighter jet to fire rockets at villages as a “warning.”

Amnesty International said its team, which visited the state after the airstrike, confirmed that unarmed residents were attacked by the fighter jet as they attempted to flee.

About 11 people were killed, and 20 others were injured from six airstrikes launched on April 9, 2019, in Dumbourou in the Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Nine civilians, including three children, were killed in a strike by the NAF in a rural community near the border with Niger on September 16, 2021, while 23 people were injured.

Also, some villagers alleged that an airstrike by the military on September 26, 2021, killed no fewer than 20 residents in the area.

To date, the Nigerian Air Force has yet to own up to the incident despite the insistence of the villagers.

In addition, seven children were killed and five injured in a village close to the neighbouring Niger Republic during an airstrike by the NAF targeting terrorists on February 20, 2022. About 13 residents were wounded, while one other died after a NAF fighter jet struck Kunkuna village in Safana LG of Katsina State on July 7, 2022.

On December 13, 2022, properties of residents were destroyed in a miscalculated airstrike in Kaduna.

This happened to be the only mishit with no record of fatalities.

At least 64 persons were killed, and many injured in an airstrike by the NAF on December 19, 2022, at Mutumji community in the Maru LG of Zamfara State.

In 2023, there were three reported cases – the NAF was responsible for two, while the Nigerian Army was reportedly involved in one.

The first occurred in Niger State on January 24 when a NAF aircraft in Galadima Kogo, Shiroro LG of the state, was said to have killed dozens of vigilantes and residents in error.

The incident, according to the state government, rendered over 8,000 residents homeless.

A day after the Niger incident, on January 25, no fewer than 40 herders were killed in another military misfire in Nasarawa State.

On December 3, 2023, a drone operated by the Nigerian Army bombed residents of Tudun Biri in Kaduna State during a religious celebration.

While the government put the casualty figure at 85, Amnesty International claimed 127 villagers were killed in the incident.

The Tudun Biri accidental airstrike generated a huge outcry, with President Tinubu demanding a thorough probe, while the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, promised that personnel found culpable in the Kaduna incident would be dealt with.

As of the time of filing this report, there had been no compensation from the Federal Government to victims of the Kaduna airstrike, despite donations from various quarters.

In 2024, there were three reported cases of accidental airstrikes.

On April 19, a military operation targeting armed kidnap gangs mistakenly killed no fewer than 33 civilians in Dogon Daji village, Maradun LG, Zamfara State. Although the military stated that airstrikes had eliminated criminal elements across the area, including Maradun, the village head, Lawali Ango, contradicted the claim.

He confirmed the casualties, describing gory scenes of men, women, and children trapped under debris.

However, NAF denied the accusations, with the Deputy Director of Public Relations, Group Captain Kabiru Ali, asserting that due diligence was always observed to protect civilians.

On September 30, at least 24 people were killed in Jika da Kolo, Giwa LG of Kaduna State, when an airstrike mistakenly hit a mosque instead of armed gangs. A resident, Muhammad Hussaini, and a local councillor, Abdullahi Ismail, confirmed the casualties.

The year’s last incident occurred on Christmas Day in Sokoto State, when an airstrike targeting Lakurawa terrorists hit Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa communities, killing at least 10 villagers and injuring several others.

ACF, northern leaders demand probe

The Arewa Consultative Forum warned that continued accidental bombings by the military in 2025 could erode public confidence in the fight against terrorism.

In an interview with Saturday PUNCH, ACF’s National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Mohammed-Baba, expressed concern over the frequency of the incidents and criticised the military’s response.

“It smirks of monumental incompetence that such ‘accidental’ bombings will continue to happen, and every time, the military sends out terse, insensitive, and blame-the-victim statements, devoid of logic and convincing reasoning,” he said.

Mohammed-Baba pointed to the presence of high-ranking officials, including the Sokoto State Governor, Aliyu Sokoto, a minister, and a senator, at the funeral rites of victims from the latest bombing as evidence of the gravity of the situation.

He also questioned the military’s justification for the air raids, highlighting the lack of evidence to support their claims.

“Where are the bodies of the terrorists? Where are their weapons? Did all evaporate into thin air, leaving only the bodies of innocent villagers to be buried? Does that really make any sense?” he asked.

The ACF National Publicity Secretary called for an urgent end to the recurring misfires and criticised the Federal Government for compensating victims’ families without transparency about the amounts paid.

“No matter what is paid, lives are invaluable and irreplaceable. To the military, we say, go for the terrorists, not their innocent victims. You have the resources, training, and allocation—demonstrate that these matter,” he said.

An elder statesman from Sokoto State, Mallam Yusuf Dingyadi, criticised the Federal Government for its silence and lack of response following the latest tragedy.

“It is troubling that over a week has passed without any federal delegation visiting the scene or sympathising with the victims,” Dingyadi said.

He urged the Federal Government to emulate past responses to similar tragedies, such as in Tudun-Beri, Kaduna, by compensating the victims and developing the community.

“They should build a primary school, an Islamiyya school, and a hospital in memory of the lives lost,” he stated.

Dingyadi also condemned comments by the Chief of Defence Staff about “collateral damage” and called for a more targeted approach to combating notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji.

“If the military is serious about combating banditry, they should direct the same level of urgency towards eliminating Turji, who has terrorised the North-West for years. Killing Turji will significantly weaken banditry in the region,” he maintained.

Another elder statesman, Alhaji Kabiru Aliyu, called for a thorough investigation into the latest incident and accountability for those responsible.

“The claims from the Lakurawa people were either false or based on faulty intelligence. It’s critical that the security agencies gather information from within the affected community rather than relying on outsiders unfamiliar with the area,” he said.

Aliyu emphasised the need for comprehensive compensation and rehabilitation of the community.

Sokoto council committee 

In response to the Sokoto bombing, the Chairman of Silame LGA, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammad, established a committee to assess the damage caused by the military airstrike.

Speaking on Thursday, he rejected claims linking the victims to the Lakurawa sect, asserting their legitimacy as community members primarily engaged in farming.

“The claims linking the victims to Lakurawa are baffling. These are people I know personally. Their community founders migrated from my hometown over 100 years ago,” he said.

Muhammad revealed that most of the victims were young children, the eldest being under 20 years old.

“The military should acknowledge their mistake instead of perpetuating baseless claims. Lakurawa operatives stay close to border areas and travel in motorcycle convoys, unlike my people, who were attacked in their homes without any weapons found on them,” he said.

He commended the state governor for covering the victims’ medical expenses at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital and providing N20m in support for affected families.

Muhammad noted that survivors in the hospital were reported to be recovering steadily.

“They are regaining consciousness and can now recognise people, though communication is still limited,”he added.

The chairman called for accountability, urging the military to correct its errors and ensure such tragedies do not recur.

Efforts to get the reaction of the Air Force Spokesperson, AVM Olusola Akinboyewa, proved abortive.

He had yet to respond to an inquiry sent to him on the matter as of the time of filing this report.

Retired military officers weigh in

Meanwhile, retired military officers and security experts have identified poor coordination and inadequate target identification as key factors in the recurring airstrike errors.

A former military officer, Brig. Gen. George Emdin (retd.), stressed the need for enhanced training, citing misidentification as a major cause.

He said, “When you do target identification wrongly, that is what happens. It is not deliberate but a failure in proper identification and training.”

Emphasising the importance of precision, he added, “There is an aerial target and a pinpoint target. Aerial targeting may allow for additional casualties, but pinpoint targets should be precise enough to avoid civilian harm.”

Similarly, a former Commander of the 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. John Sura (retd.), said coordination errors and inaccurate targeting were mainly contributing factors, calling for stricter operational checks.

He said, “If the faults indeed originate from the military, it could be due to incorrect coordination provided to the drones or incorrect coordinates given to fighter pilots.

“If terrorists are co-located with citizens, a more precise method should be employed to determine the exact bomb target location.”

He urged the military to develop localised methods of issuing early warnings through traditional leaders before bombings.

“To achieve this properly, the military needs better coordination and intelligence,” he added.

Another officer, Brig. Gen. Adewinbi (retd.), emphasised the importance of credible intelligence, urging the military to verify and act promptly on reports.

He said, “The war we are fighting is unconventional. These criminals hide among our people. The incidents are not intentional. To prevent harm, we should clear terrorists among us without discouraging those on the frontline.

“Intelligence gathering is critical. I would suggest that intelligence should be credible and promptly acted on. Verification before action is vital as criminals change locations quickly. The military deserves kudos for their efforts to bring peace.”

However, a former Nigerian Air Force spokesman, Group Captain Sadeeq Shehu (retd.), attributed persistent accidental bombings to a lack of accountability for previous incidents.

He said, “A trained expert working on collateral damage and targeting should ensure accountability. Yet, those tasked with holding the military accountable, including the press, are not doing enough.”

Shehu criticised the military’s delayed acknowledgement of such errors, stating, “What I find inhuman is the military’s silence after such incidents. Often, external media breaks the story first before the military acknowledges it.”

He also blamed it on public ignorance of military operations.

Expressing concern over rising incidents, he said, “The frequency of these bombings is becoming excessive.”

Shehu attributed many errors to faulty intelligence, inadequate training, and poor adherence to engagement protocols.

“Most mistakes arise from faulty intelligence—someone claims to spot bandits, and action is taken without verification. Bombs are dropped based on incomplete information,” he added.

He recommended enhanced training in weapon handling, stricter adherence to rules of engagement, and rigorous intelligence verification to curb accidental bombings.