Local vigilantes in Zamfara State have recounted the harrowing moment a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) jet mistakenly bombed them while they were pursuing terrorists who had attacked Garin Mani, a village in Maru Local Government Area.
According to the vigilantes, several of their members were killed in the airstrike that occurred on Saturday, although the Nigerian Air Force confirmed only two fatalities. The vigilantes insist the actual number of casualties was significantly higher.
Military air assets had been deployed to Garin Mani following reports of a violent attack by armed bandits. Eyewitnesses reported that the assailants arrived on motorcycles around noon, opening fire on residents and causing widespread panic. The attack left multiple villagers dead and over 50 others—mostly farmers—abducted from their fields.
One vigilante, speaking to BBC Hausa, shared his experience:
“We were chasing the bandits when we saw the fighter jet. It flew low and suddenly began bombing us. Some of us survived by pretending we had been hit. When the jet left, we ran for our lives.”
A resident, who spoke anonymously, criticized the military’s silence following the incident, urging them to take responsibility and offer support to the victims’ families. He also called for increased security in the area, noting that the bandits had issued threats to return.
Military sources explained that the difficult terrain limited the ground troops’ ability to pursue the terrorists directly, prompting them to call for air support.
Confirming the air operation, NAF spokesperson Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet (previously misidentified as Ejodame) told journalists in Abuja that the mission was part of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, aimed at disrupting a large-scale bandit attack. He stated that more than 21 motorcycles used by the attackers were destroyed in the strike.
“Intelligence indicated that a large number of terrorists were mobilizing to launch attacks on nearby communities. Our aircraft identified over 30 motorcycles carrying armed terrorists heading toward a forest. Upon engaging the targets, dozens of terrorists were neutralized, and several motorcycles were destroyed,” he explained.
Following the airstrike, ground troops were deployed to secure the area and confirmed the destruction of enemy assets and the deaths of over 20 terrorists.
However, the NAF acknowledged that local vigilantes were inadvertently caught in the operation.
“Regrettably, two vigilantes lost their lives, and two others were injured in the crossfire,” the NAF spokesperson said. “We deeply regret this loss and have launched an investigation into the incident.”
He urged the public to remain calm and assured that efforts were ongoing to rescue the abducted villagers, who were reportedly taken into a nearby forest.