Zamfara’s Governor Dauda Lawal says the military air strike that killed civilians in his state was not intentional.

More than 16 people died on January 11 when a military plane bombed the Tungar Kara community in Zamfara State’s Maradun area. While the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) first said no civilians were killed, they later admitted there were casualties. On Tuesday, they sent a team to investigate what happened.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Governor Lawal explained that he knew about the military operation because he had asked for Air Force help to fight bandits who were attacking the area. He offered condolences to the victims’ families, describing their deaths as unintended casualties of the operation.

“We have been battling issues within the last three days as a result of the air strike. Let me say this: I have full information on what happened that fateful day,” Lawal said. He explained that when they called the Air Force about bandits attacking communities, the military responded quickly and stopped many bandits.

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However, when they called for help a second time, the Air Force accidentally hit community members who had come to help people under attack. “It was one of those things in this kind of situation; sometimes there may be collateral damage, and that was what happened in less than three days,” the governor explained.

The governor sent his deputy to visit the area and talk with the families of those who died. The air force chief has also formed a committee to work with the state government and help the affected people. They visited the area yesterday to investigate and prevent similar accidents in the future.

Governor Lawal said he remains confident that the military can defeat the bandits in Zamfara, adding that Bello Turji, a well-known bandit leader, will soon be caught.