A military airstrike on a busy market in the Zamfara state of northwest Nigeria killed at least 100 civilians, according to Amnesty International’s statement on Tuesday. The organisation appealed to authorities to open an immediate investigation.
The airstrike was the second attack in a month to kill over a 100 people in northern Nigeria. Amnesty said the strike hit the remote Tumfa market in Zurmi district on Sunday, with dozens of injured people being treated at hospitals in Zurmi and the neighbouring Shinkafi. The human rights group reported that many of the civilians killed were women and girls.
The Nigerian military is yet to comment on the attacks but has previously denied targeting civilians, claiming airstrikes are intelligence-led and hit only militant targets.
Witnesses told Amnesty that military jets were spotted hovering over the area at midday before returning around two hours later and striking the crowded market.
A similar airstrike took place in April on a weekly market in Jilli, killing about 200 civilians, in northeastern Nigeria. The military had opened an investigation to look into the incident.
Residents continue to fear the rising civilian deaths from military raids and strikes in northern regions.
Nigerian military has been conducting strikes in the name of fighting banditry in the northwest and a 17-year Islamist insurgency in the northeast. The United States also struck supposed Islamist bases in northwestern Nigeria on Christmas day last year, after President Donald Trump accused the country of failing to protect its Christians.
Amnesty has condemned the series of attacks against civilians, calling it unlawful with little regard for civilian life.
“This pattern of human rights violation is increasingly becoming the norm, with villagers at the receiving end of atrocities by both armed groups, bandits, and the military,” said Amnesty.
The organisation added, “The authorities must investigate these deadly strikes, and put an end to reckless attacks on civilians.”
