Many dead in accidental military attack

Dozens of civilians were accidentally killed in a drone attack by the Nigerian army. According to local authorities, the target was supposed to be “terrorists and bandits.”

The Nigerian military accidentally killed numerous civilians during an operation against rebels. Governor Uba Sani stated that a gathering of Muslims in a village in the Igabi administrative area in Kaduna state was attacked by a drone on Sunday evening.

The drone was supposed to target “terrorists and bandits,” but civilians were accidentally killed and others injured.

Amnesty International reports 120 deaths

The office of the human rights organization Amnesty International in Nigeria, citing reports from workers and volunteers in the region, reported 120 deaths, while according to the AFP news agency, residents said there were 85 dead and 60 injured. Many children are among the victims, said Isa Sanusi, the local director of Amnesty International, to the AP news agency. More bodies are being recovered at the scene.

The army did not provide information about the number of casualties in the incident in Tudun Biri village.

A resident told AFP that 30 deaths have been identified so far. Dozens of injured people have been taken to a hospital in the capital, Kaduna, said the local security official, Samuel Aruwan. Governor Sani ordered an investigation.

Frequent attacks

General Valentine Okoro, in charge of operations in Kaduna, was quoted by the state government as saying that the army was on a routine mission against terrorists. He stated that the actions of the military accidentally affected members of the community, according to the statement.

Attacks by extremists and rebels continue to cause fear and terror in large parts of northwest and central Nigeria. The military often targets hideouts of armed groups from the air, but there have been occasions where villagers have been hit.