Amnesty International has accused the Nigerian military of carrying out an airstrike that killed at least 100 civilians at a crowded market in Zamfara State, describing the incident as part of a growing pattern of deadly attacks on civilian communities during counterinsurgency operations.
According to the rights group, the strike hit Tumfa market in Zurmi Local Government Area on Sunday, killing traders, residents, women and children gathered at the busy marketplace.
Amnesty said dozens of injured victims were receiving treatment in hospitals in Zurmi and nearby Shinkafi, while many families were still searching for missing relatives following the attack.
The organization called for an immediate and independent investigation into the incident, warning that repeated military strikes on civilian areas were deepening fear and distrust among communities already affected by insecurity in northern Nigeria.
“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,” Amnesty said in a statement.
Witnesses cited by the group said military aircraft were first seen hovering over the area around midday before returning nearly two hours later to bomb the market while it was crowded with civilians.
The Nigerian military had not officially responded to the allegation as of Tuesday evening. However, the armed forces have consistently maintained that their air operations are intelligence-driven and targeted strictly at terrorist and bandit hideouts.
The Zamfara incident comes barely a month after another controversial airstrike reportedly killed around 200 civilians at a weekly market in Jilli, in northeastern Nigeria. Authorities later announced an investigation into that attack.
The repeated reports of civilian casualties have intensified scrutiny of Nigeria’s aerial military campaign against armed groups operating across the North-West and North-East.
Nigeria has spent years battling armed bandit networks in states such as Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto, while also confronting a prolonged insurgency linked to Islamist militant groups in the North-East.
Security analysts say the increasing use of air power reflects pressure on the military to contain worsening violence, but rights groups argue that poor intelligence and weak safeguards are exposing civilians to deadly risks.
The latest allegation could also renew international concern over Nigeria’s conduct of military operations, especially following growing criticism from foreign governments and human rights organisations over civilian protection.
In December last year, the administration of Donald Trump authorised strikes on what Washington described as Islamist militant bases in northwestern Nigeria after accusing Nigerian authorities of failing to adequately protect Christian communities from attacks.
Residents in affected northern communities have increasingly voiced fears over both armed group violence and accidental military strikes, saying civilians are often trapped between insurgents and security operations.
Amnesty International said the repeated bombings of populated areas showed “disregard for civilian life” and warned that failure to ensure accountability could further erode public trust in the military’s operations.
