The military has reportedly killed over 20 bandits in a coordinated air strike in Maraya and Wabi Villages, Maru Local Council of Zamfara State.

  The operation, which took place on Saturday, also resulted in the death of five vigilante members, who reportedly flouted withdrawal orders.

  NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, yesterday, said the strike followed intelligence that “a significant number of terrorists were massing and preparing to strike” unsuspecting settlements.

  “Further intelligence confirmed that the bandits had killed some farmers and abducted a number of civilians, including women and children,” Ejodame stated, adding that two local vigilantes were killed and two others injured in the crossfire.

  Residents and Amnesty International earlier reported the airstrike, with the rights group calling for authorities to investigate the incident.

  “Attacks by bandits clearly warrant a response from the state, but to launch reckless airstrikes into villages, again and again, is absolutely unlawful,” Amnesty stated.

  Residents said the airstrike occurred on Sunday in Maraya and Wabi Villages of Zamfara, one of the epicentres of attacks by armed groups in the North-West region.

According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency source focused on the Lake Chad region, the air strike was followed by a ground exploitation mission on June 1 by troops of Operation Fansan Yanma.

  Makama said the mission confirmed the neutralisation of over 20 bandits and the destruction of many motorcycles and other equipment.

  “Unfortunately, five vigilante members were killed, while two others sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment in the hospital. A few others sustained minor injuries and did not require hospitalisation,” the publication said.

  The leader of the vigilante group has taken “full responsibility” for the casualties, admitting that some members disregarded instructions to withdraw from the outskirts of the village before the air strike.

  “He 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 publication added.

  Amnesty International called on Nigerian authorities to carry out a transparent investigation into the military air strike.

  According to reports, the victims were local vigilantes who had gathered to defend their communities from bandits when the military aircraft mistakenly bombed them.

  In a post shared on X, yesterday, Amnesty International described the air strike as absolutely unlawful, adding that “this is not the first time the Nigerian military has caused civilian deaths through air raids.”