Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal addressed the unintentional civilian casualties from a January 11 airstrike in Tungar Kara. The strike, targeting bandits, mistakenly killed over 16 civilians. Lawal expressed condolences, described the incident as collateral damage, and commended the Nigerian Air Force for launching investigations to prevent future occurrences.
Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has clarified that the recent military airstrike in Tungar Kara, Maradun LGA, which resulted in civilian casualties, was unintentional. The January 11 strike, aimed at neutralizing bandits, tragically claimed over 16 civilian lives.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Lawal revealed he had requested Air Force intervention to combat banditry in the area. While the initial operation successfully targeted bandits, a subsequent strike mistakenly hit local community protection groups (CPGs) and villagers attempting to rescue those under attack. The governor expressed deep regret over the loss, describing the casualties as collateral damage in the complex security situation.
Lawal extended condolences to the victims' families and emphasized the unintentional nature of the incident. "These things happen in such operations; it was not deliberate," he stated. He also commended the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) for deploying a fact-finding team to investigate and prevent future occurrences. Additionally, the governor dispatched a high-level delegation, led by his deputy, to assess the situation on-site and console affected families.
NAF’s Chief of Air Staff has initiated measures to ensure transparency, including sending representatives to inspect the affected area and engage with the local community. Lawal reaffirmed his confidence in the military’s efforts to tackle banditry, expressing hope for the demise of notorious bandit leader Bello Turji.
