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. Residents said the casualties included both bandits and civilians.

The aerial bombardment occurred on Sunday, the same day another Nigerian Air Force operation targeting bandits struck Guradnayi, a settlement near Kusasu in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, where 13 civilians were reportedly killed.

Reports of the Tumfa incident emerged late on Monday due to poor communication networks in the area.

Tumfa and several neighbouring communities in Zurmi LGA are said to be under the control of armed groups, with locals forced to coexist with the bandits who often act as de facto authorities.

A community leader, Garba Ibrahim Mashema, said the exact number of casualties from the Sunday military airstrike on the market remains difficult to determine.

“The actual death toll is hard to establish at the moment. Everybody — residents and bandits — go to the market. People are at the mercy of the bandits. There is nothing they can do,” he told AFP.

Aliyu Musa, a resident of Zurmi town, about seven kilometres from Tumfa, claimed that many of those killed were traders and food vendors, including young girls selling millet porridge and tofu. He estimated the death toll at 117.

“To be frank, Tumfa market is under the control of bandits. It is their stronghold. Anyone who goes there knows he is entering their territory,” Musa said.

A relative of some of the victims, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said the military fighter jet initially conducted surveillance over the market before returning hours later to launch the bombardment.

He also said several communities in the LGA, including Fakai, Mayasa and Mashema, are effectively under the control of bandits due to the absence of government authority.

“There is no legal authority in villages like Fakai, Mayasa and Mashema. The bandits act as judges and police,” he said.

He alleged that the military may have identified the presence of weapons in the market during the surveillance operation, which possibly informed the airstrike.

“We live together with them and they move around with weapons openly,” he added.

The source further disclosed that bandits recently imposed a levy of N70 million on a community after one of the villagers they allegedly sent to Nasarawa State to procure ammunition was arrested by security operatives.

“They sent him to Nasarawa to collect ammunition hidden inside containers of palm oil, but security agents arrested him. The bandits then forced his relatives to pay N70 million, without caring about the fate of the man they implicated,” he said.

He maintained that most parts of Zurmi Local Government Area remain under the dominance of armed groups.

“You cannot travel five kilometres outside Zurmi town without encountering bandits,” he said.

The resident also accused the bandits of repeatedly destroying farmlands by grazing cattle on crops.

“For years, they only allow us to harvest millet. Whenever we plant guinea corn or beans, they drive their cattle into the farms and destroy them,” he said.

He added that several injured victims were referred to Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital in Gusau, while others were receiving treatment at Zurmi General Hospital.

Another resident described Tumfa market as a notorious enclave controlled by armed groups.

“Frankly speaking, the market belongs to the bandits. It is located deep inside the forest and there is even a shop known as ‘Bala Shop’ where arms and ammunition are allegedly sold,” he claimed.

He, however, defended the military operation, insisting that the airstrike was not carried out recklessly.

“The fighter jet conducted aerial surveillance over the market and returned about 40 minutes later before carrying out the bombardment,” he said.

“As of last night, 117 people had reportedly died. About 40 injured victims were taken to Shinkafi Hospital, while another 40 were moved to Zurmi Hospital. Two ambulances and a Toyota Hilux loaded with victims arrived from the area,” he added.

‘Airstrike killed many bandits too’

A source in the area said the military airstrike also succeeded in killing an unspecified number of bandits, although he acknowledged that the operation resulted in significant civilian casualties as well.

“But let me tell you the truth, the airstrike killed an unspecified number of bandits that nobody can accurately count, which is a major success. However, innocent citizens also suffered,” he said.

The military denied that civilians were killed in the Zamfara market airstrike. Defence Headquarters spokesman, Major General Michael Onoja, told AFP that the reports of civilian deaths in Zamfara were “not true”.

Zurmi Local Government Area has suffered repeated attacks by armed groups over the years, resulting in the killing of residents and security personnel, as well as mass kidnappings.

Several communities in the area are believed to be under the influence or direct control of bandits.

Concerns over the situation are not new. In April 2019, when military airstrikes targeted suspected bandits’ camps in Dumburum village in Zurmi LGA, traditional rulers alleged that innocent civilians were affected.

Former Zamfara State governor, Abdulaziz Yari, had at the time described Dumburum as a long-standing hideout for criminal groups.

Amnesty Int’l demands probe

Amnesty International has called on the Nigerian government to investigate the military airstrike, which it said killed over 100 civilians at Tumfa market.

In a statement, the organisation said one of the affected villages buried 80 people in one fell swoop.

“The authorities must investigate these deadly strikes, and put an end to reckless attacks on civilians.

“In parts of the north facing conflicts, civilians have borne the brunt of suffering far too often. These horrific deaths must not be overlooked. The devastated survivors and their families deserve truth, justice and reparations.

“Military aircraft bombed the weekly market, at a point it was full of people and without warning. The scene was chaotic.

“There were screams, blood, and bodies all over the ground. Those who survived with injuries were evacuated to general hospitals in Zurmi and Shinkafa, while those severely injured are receiving treatment at Yariman Bakura Specialists Hospital Gusau,” Amnesty International said.

DHQ dismisses reports

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has, however, dismissed the alleged civilian casualties during the air-land operation, describing circulating casualty figures as unverified.

In a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, Director, Defence Media Operations, said troops of Joint Task Force, North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, conducted the operation on, Sunday, May 10.

He said the strike targeted a high-level meeting of terrorist ring leaders at Tumfa Village, Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara.

According to him, credible multi-source intelligence confirmed the location as a coordination point for planned attacks across communities.

He explained that the air interdiction strike prevented immediate and precise casualty enumeration on the ground.

“The casualty figures circulating across media platforms remain speculative, unverified and inconsistent with official military assessments.

“Our official position remains that several terrorists were neutralised after post-strike battle damage assessment,” he said.

Onoja also rejected allegations of civilian casualties, saying no credible evidence had emerged from official assessments.

“The target remained a confirmed terrorist structure occupied by armed non-state actors threatening civilian lives.

“Those making such claims should rely on verified evidence, not social media reports or adversarial sources,” he said.

He reaffirmed that the Armed Forces operated under strict rules of engagement and international humanitarian law.

“Civilians are never deliberately targeted during operations,” he stressed.

He said ground troops continued clearance operations while the public was urged to follow official communication channels.

Onoja assured that any verified civilian casualty would be transparently communicated under established military protocols.

He reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ commitment to professionalism, accountability and civilian protection throughout ongoing operations. (Pieced together from reports by Daily Trust and NAN)