A tragic military airstrike intended to target bandits has mistakenly claimed the lives of six individuals in the Yauni Community, located in Zakka Ward, Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The incident, which occurred shortly after Saturday’s Local Government Elections, has left the community in shock and disarray.
According to security sources who spoke with journalists on Monday, the victims were primarily members of a single family, including three children, a man, and two women. The airstrike occurred while security forces were engaged in a confrontation with bandits who had planned an attack on voters in the Zakka village.
Eyewitnesses recounted that a fierce gun battle ensued between the bandits, police officers, and members of the State Community Watch Corps (CWC). Tragically, two police officers and one CWC operative were killed in the clash. A fourth officer, who was severely wounded, later succumbed to his injuries.
The situation worsened when, shortly after the deadly gun battle, a military fighter jet was dispatched for reinforcement. However, in an unfortunate miscalculation, the jet dropped a bomb on Yauni, a community located south of Zakka village. This airstrike, meant to target the bandits, instead led to the loss of innocent lives and left another woman seriously injured.
Military and government officials have yet to comment on the incident as of this report.
This tragedy is not the first of its kind. In July 2022, a similar mishap occurred in the Safana Local Government Area when a military fighter jet mistakenly bombed Kunkunni village, killing at least two people. Earlier this year, an airstrike in Zamfara State also mistakenly killed 16 individuals, including members of the local vigilante force, the Zamfara Community Protection Guard (ZCPG), and several residents.
