A Nigerian military drone strike, intended to target rebels, tragically resulted in the loss of at least 85 innocent civilians who had gathered for a religious celebration, authorities revealed on Monday.
The incident occurred on Sunday night in the village of Tudun Biri in Kaduna state’s Igabi council area, where Muslims had assembled to observe the holiday commemorating the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday. Kaduna Governor Uba Sani stated that civilians were “mistakenly killed and many others were wounded” in the drone attack, which was aimed at “terrorists and bandits.”
According to the National Emergency Management Agency, “85 dead bodies have so far been buried while search is still ongoing.” However, Amnesty International’s Nigeria office reported that 120 people were killed in the attack, with many of them being children.
Igabi resident Mustapha Rufai mentioned that at least 50 bodies were recovered, and recounted, “They said they mistakenly threw a bomb on them.”
This incident marks the latest in a series of accidental bombings of residents in Nigeria’s troubled regions. Rebel attacks in the country’s northwest and central areas have led to frequent aerial bombardments by Nigeria’s forces, targeting armed groups’ hideouts but sometimes causing harm to villagers.
The groups, referred to as bandits, have been responsible for various attacks, including raids on villages, assaults on an air force fighter jet and a train, and the kidnapping of individuals of all ages, including children, for ransom.
