At least 72 killed’ as military bombs Zamfara market

A military air strike reportedly struck Tumfa market in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State on Sunday, leaving dozens feared dead.

According to AFP, at least 72 people were killed in the bombardment, although Amnesty International claimed the death toll had exceeded 100. The rights group also said many injured victims were receiving treatment in various hospitals across the state.

Residents described scenes of devastation after the strike, with several bodies reportedly mutilated beyond recognition.

Garba Ibrahim Mashema, a community leader, told AFP that determining the exact number of casualties remained difficult because both residents and armed bandits frequent the market.

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

Another local source said the market is largely under the control of bandits and that some of those killed were young traders selling local foods such as millet porridge and tofu.

Amnesty International condemned the attack, revealing that one affected village buried about 80 victims at once. The organisation called on authorities to conduct an independent investigation and ensure accountability.

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

It added that military aircraft bombed the busy weekly market without warning, causing panic and widespread casualties.

“There were screams, blood, and bodies scattered across the ground,” the organisation stated, noting that injured victims were taken to hospitals in Zurmi, Shinkafi and Gusau for treatment.

The incident reportedly occurred on the same day another Nigerian Air Force operation in Niger State allegedly killed 13 civilians during a mission targeting bandits.

However, Michael Onoja, spokesperson for the Defence Headquarters, dismissed reports of civilian casualties in Zamfara as false. The military also denied killing innocent civilians in the Niger air strike but said the incident would be investigated.