Amnesty Says Nigerian Airstrike Killed 100 at Zamfara Market

At least 100 civilians were killed in a Nigerian military airstrike on a crowded market in northwest Zamfara state on Sunday, Amnesty International said Tuesday, calling for an immediate investigation. The strike hit the remote Tumfa market in Zurmi district, according to the rights group. It was the second airstrike in about a month to kill large numbers of people at a market in northern Nigeria.

Amnesty said dozens of injured people were receiving treatment at hospitals in Zurmi and nearby Shinkafi, and that many of those killed were women and girls. The group said witnesses reported military jets hovering over the area around midday, returning about two hours later before striking the market.

The Nigerian military did not immediately respond to requests for comment. It has previously denied targeting civilians, saying airstrikes are intelligence-led and aimed only at militant targets.

Residents in northern regions have said they are increasingly worried about civilian deaths from military raids and airstrikes. Nigeria’s military has been fighting banditry in the northwest and a 17-year Islamist insurgency in the northeast.

Second deadly market strike reported in a month

The Zamfara incident followed a similar airstrike in April on a weekly market in Jilli in northeastern Nigeria, where around 200 civilians were reported killed. The military has opened a probe into that strike.

Amnesty described what it called a pattern of violations in which villagers are caught between armed groups, bandits and the military. It said the airstrikes were unlawful and showed disregard for civilian life.

Calls for accountability and safeguards

Amnesty urged Nigerian authorities to investigate the Zamfara strike and to ensure civilians are protected during military operations. The military’s response to that call, and any findings from its ongoing investigation into the April incident, will be closely watched in the coming days.