A military airstrike on Tumfa market in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State has reportedly killed at least 117 people and injured several others, with residents claiming casualties included both bandits and civilians. The aerial bombardment occurred on Sunday, the same day another Nigerian Air Force operation targeting bandits reportedly killed 13 civilians in Guradnayi, Niger State. Reports of the Tumfa incident emerged late on Monday due to poor communication networks.

Tumfa and several neighboring communities in Zurmi LGA, including Fakai, Mayasa, and Mashema, are said to be under the control of armed groups. Locals are reportedly forced to coexist with bandits who often act as de facto authorities, functioning as judges and police in the absence of government presence. A community leader, Garba Ibrahim Mashema, stated that determining the exact number of casualties from the Sunday airstrike is difficult as both residents and bandits frequent the market. Aliyu Musa, a Zurmi town resident, estimated the death toll at 117, claiming many victims were traders and food vendors, including young girls. He described Tumfa market as a bandit stronghold, emphasizing that anyone entering knows they are in bandit territory.

A relative of some victims, who requested anonymity, alleged that the military fighter jet conducted surveillance over the market before returning hours later to launch the bombardment. The source further suggested that the military might have identified weapons during surveillance, which could have informed the strike, as bandits openly carry weapons. This individual also revealed that bandits recently imposed a N70 million levy on a community after a villager, allegedly sent to procure ammunition, was arrested. The source maintained that most parts of Zurmi LGA remain dominated by armed groups, with bandits destroying farmlands by grazing cattle on crops, only permitting the harvest of millet. Injured victims were reportedly referred to Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital in Gusau and Zurmi General Hospital.

Another resident characterized Tumfa market as a notorious enclave, claiming it is located deep inside the forest and even has a shop known as ‘Bala Shop’ where arms and ammunition are allegedly sold. However, this resident defended the military operation, insisting the airstrike was not reckless and followed aerial surveillance. As of the night of the incident, 117 people had reportedly died, with about 40 injured victims taken to Shinkafi Hospital and another 40 to Zurmi Hospital.

A source in the area acknowledged significant civilian casualties but added that the military airstrike also succeeded in killing an unspecified number of bandits, which was considered a major success. However, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed reports of civilian deaths in the Zamfara market airstrike. Defence Headquarters spokesman, Brigadier General Michael Onoja, maintained that reports of civilian deaths were “not true.” He further clarified that the strike was carried out in line with international humanitarian law and targeted a confirmed high-level gathering of militant leaders based on multi-sourced intelligence. Onoja asserted that no credible, substantiated evidence of civilian casualties had been established through official assessment or independent verification, though he noted the difficulty of immediate casualty verification due to the nature of the operation and security situation.

Amnesty International has called on the Nigerian government to investigate the military airstrike, which it stated killed over 100 civilians at Tumfa market, citing reports of one affected village burying 80 people at once. The organization demanded an end to reckless attacks on civilians, stressing that survivors and families deserve truth, justice, and reparations, describing the scene as chaotic with screams, blood, and bodies everywhere. They stated that the weekly market was bombed when it was full of people and without warning.

The Sunday airstrike on Tumfa market drew parallels to the April aerial bombardment of Jilli market, located between Gubio and Geidam Local Government Areas of Borno and Yobe states, which was also reportedly under terrorist control. Dozens of people, including insurgents and civilians, were reportedly killed there. The military confirmed the Jilli strike, identifying the location as a major terrorist movement corridor and logistics hub. Following reports of civilian casualties, the Nigerian Air Force launched an investigation, and Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum later disclosed that the state government had shut down Jilli market five years prior due to its alleged use by insurgents.

A homeland security expert, Auwal Bala Durumin Iya, has expressed concern over the plight of civilians in bandit-infested communities, describing them as increasingly trapped between armed criminals and military airstrikes. Durumin Iya noted that while bandits impose themselves on rural communities, security operations often impact innocent residents who lack the choice to relocate due to their reliance on farming for livelihood and insufficient government support. He explained that many communities are forced to cooperate with bandits under threats and intimidation. The expert emphasized that the government and security agencies bear the responsibility for protecting lives and property, criticizing inadequate handling of repeated airstrike incidents affecting civilians in states like Niger, Kaduna, and Borno. He attributed this to poor training and lack of professionalism among some security personnel, and faulted the government for prioritizing security deployment during elections over protecting vulnerable rural communities. Durumin Iya called for improved intelligence gathering, strengthened military professionalism, and accountability to reduce civilian casualties and restore confidence among affected communities.