A tragic military airstrike has claimed the lives of seven civilians in Yauni community, Zakka ward of Safana local government area of Katsina State.
Among the victims were six members of a single family, while another woman sustained injuries.
The incident, which occurred on Saturday, followed a violent clash between security forces and armed bandits. According to sources, the confrontation was linked to the local government elections held on the same day.
A resident, who requested anonymity, told our reporter that the bandits had planned to attack voters in Zakka village. However, security agents, acting on intelligence, launched an operation to prevent the assault.
“The security agents moved to avert the execution of the attack, leading to an exchange of fire with the bandits. A police officer and a Community Watch Corps (CWC) operative were killed on the spot, while a third police officer, who was injured, later succumbed to his wounds,” the resident explained.
Following the firefight, a military fighter jet was reportedly deployed, possibly as reinforcement. However, instead of neutralising the threat, the airstrike mistakenly struck Yauni community, resulting in the deaths of the family members.
“It was after that incident that the military fighter jet, which most likely came to offer reinforcement, dropped a bomb at Yauni community, south of Zakka, which led to the death of six members of a family, while one woman sustained injuries,” the source said.
This tragedy adds to a growing list of accidental airstrikes in Katsina State. In July 2022, at least two people were killed when a military fighter jet dropped a bomb on Kunkunni village, also in Safana Local Government Area.
Efforts to obtain official comments from the police and military regarding Saturday’s airstrike have so far been unsuccessful.
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