Tragedy at Tumfa: Civilians caught in crossfire as 117 reported dead in Zamfara market military airstrike

At least 117 people, including civilians and bandits, were reportedly killed during a Nigerian Air Force airstrike on Tumfa market in Zamfara State, sparking international calls for an independent investigation into civilian casualties.

A massive military airstrike on Tumfa market in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State has reportedly claimed the lives of at least 117 people and left dozens injured. The aerial bombardment, which occurred on Sunday, targeted a known stronghold of armed bandits, but residents and survivors claim the casualties included a significant number of traders and food vendors caught in the forest enclave. While the military has denied reports of civilian deaths, witnesses described a chaotic scene involving the deaths of young girls and traders. “The actual death toll is hard to establish at the moment. Everybody — residents and bandits — go to the market. People are at the mercy of the bandits. There is nothing they can do,” stated community leader Garba Ibrahim Mashema.

The incident has highlighted the precarious reality for rural communities in northern Nigeria, where civilians are often forced to coexist with bandits who act as de facto authorities. Reports indicate that the fighter jet conducted surveillance over the market before returning 40 minutes later to launch the strike on the weekly hub, which reportedly houses an arms shop. A resident, Aliyu Musa, noted that the market was effectively under the control of armed groups, stating, “To be frank, Tumfa market is under the control of bandits. It is their stronghold. Anyone who goes there knows he is entering their territory.” The strike coincided with another operation in Niger State that reportedly killed 13 civilians, further intensifying concerns over the precision of aerial counter-insurgency operations.

Amnesty International has called for an immediate and transparent investigation into the strike, alleging that one affected village buried 80 people in a single mass grave. The human rights organization described the attack as “reckless,” noting that the market was full of people when it was bombed without warning. Security experts have warned that villagers are increasingly trapped between criminal intimidation and military force. “But let me tell you the truth, the airstrike killed an unspecified number of bandits that nobody can accurately count, which is a major success. However, innocent citizens also suffered,” a local source revealed, underscoring the high collateral cost of the ongoing security offensive in the region.

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