The recent military airstrike in Zamfara State, northwest Nigeria, managed to target not just the so-called enemies but also 15 civilians, leaving over 30 injured and an entire community questioning whether national security actually includes their safety.
Development Diaries reports that a military airstrike on Saturday killed 15 people in several towns in Zamfara State’s Maradun and Zurmi areas, according to media reports.
It is quite regrettable that the victims of the bombing were residents who were trying to protect themselves against bandit attacks.
While the government is fighting bandits and criminals, mistakes like this cause people to lose trust in the security agencies that are supposed to protect them.
The tragic loss of innocent lives due to poor identification or wrong information raises concerns about how carefully these operations are planned and carried out.
This is not the first time the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has rewritten the definition of ‘friendly fire’. In fact, it is almost becoming their signature move. Remember the 2017 airstrike on a refugee camp in Rann, Borno State, that killed over 100 civilians?
Or the 2021 Yobe State operation that turned civilians into unintended targets? And let’s not forget the airstrike in Mainok that same year, which wiped out 30 soldiers. 12 such documented incidents since 2014.
Here is the burning question: How long will this game of aerial Russian roulette continue? Is the military’s target identification system powered by guesswork?
These repeated ‘mistakes’ are eroding public trust. The people should not have to live in fear of both bandits and their supposed protectors.
Enough is enough. The Nigerian military has the resources, the personnel, and the potential to do better. The question is: Do they have the will? For now, the airstrike victims and their grieving families await more than just condolences; they await justice and meaningful reform.
Development Diaries calls on the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, to ensure investment in real-time, accurate intelligence gathering. We also call on the NAF to engage with local leaders and residents before launching strikes. The people should not just be statistics in a briefing; they should be partners in security.
In addition, we urge the NAF to take responsibility for ‘mistakes’ and offer support to affected families, as this can also help rebuild trust.
Photo source: NAF