At least 100 people were killed in an airstrike by the Nigerian army on a busy market in Zamfara State, northwestern Nigeria, according to Amnesty International. The organization called on Tuesday for an immediate independent investigation.
The bombing struck the isolated market of Tumfa, located in the Zurmi district, on Sunday. According to Amnesty International, many civilians were present at the time of the attack, including women and girls.
The NGO reports that dozens of injured people are currently being treated in hospitals in Zurmi and Shinkafi, a neighboring city. The death toll could rise further due to the severity of the injuries sustained by several victims.
This is the second deadly airstrike to hit a crowded market in northern Nigeria in the space of a month, reigniting concerns about military operations in the region against armed groups and criminal gangs.
The Nigerian military did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the strike. In the past, the armed forces have consistently denied targeting civilians, stating that their air operations are based on military intelligence and exclusively target militant groups.
For several years, northern Nigeria has faced chronic insecurity marked by attacks from armed groups, kidnappings, and violence in rural areas. Military operations against these groups have regularly been accused of causing civilian casualties.
This new tragedy risks increasing the pressure on the Nigerian authorities, already criticized by several international organizations for their handling of the conflict and the insufficient protection of civilian populations in the regions affected by the violence.
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