A military airstrike intended to target bandits has tragically resulted in the deaths of seven civilians in the Yauni community, located in Zakka ward of Safana Local Government Area in Katsina State, leaving the locals in deep shock and mourning.
The event unfolded following the local government elections held on Saturday, as security personnel aimed to prevent an assault planned by bandits on voters in Zakka village.
Sources indicate that security forces, comprising police officers and members of the state-supported Community Watch Corps (CWC), engaged the bandits in a fierce firefight. In the course of the confrontation, two police officers and one CWC operative lost their lives, and another officer, who suffered injuries, later died.
After the violent encounter, a military jet reportedly sent for backup accidentally released a bomb on the Yauni community, situated south of Zakka.
This horrific error resulted in the deaths of six individuals from a single family, while another woman sustained injuries.
“We had already suffered the loss of our men in the gunfight, and then, unexpectedly, the airstrike occurred,” a resident, who wished to remain anonymous, told reporters. “It’s heartbreaking. Innocent individuals bore the consequences for events they had no involvement in.”
This incident marks yet another occasion where an airstrike has mistakenly targeted civilians in Katsina. In July 2022, at least two people lost their lives when a military jet dropped a bomb on Kunkunni village, also within the Safana Local Government Area.
The recent tragedy has reignited concerns regarding the military’s counterinsurgency efforts and the safety of civilians who find themselves in perilous situations.
