An airstrike in Nigeria’s northwestern Zamfara state has resulted in the deaths of at least 33 people, according to witnesses. The strike, which occurred on April 10, was part of a military operation aimed at targeting armed kidnapping gangs and their hideouts. This incident follows a pattern of deadly aerial assaults by the military in Nigeria that have resulted in the deaths of civilians. Last year, a special Reuters report highlighted the issue. The military claims that the airstrikes successfully eliminated armed gangs in several locations in Zamfara, including the Maradun local government area. However, Lawali Ango, the traditional head of Dogon Daji village, disputes this claim. He states that there were no bandits in his area and that the military’s statement is false. Ango was away from his village on April 10, preparing for Eid prayers, when he witnessed aircraft passing by and heard loud explosions. When he tried to contact his village, he was unable to reach anyone. Along with a group of men, Ango raced back to his village on motorbikes and discovered the devastating aftermath of the airstrike. He described seeing the bodies of children, men, and women who were killed and trapped inside collapsed buildings. According to Ango, a total of 33 people were killed in the attack. He vehemently denies the military’s assertion that bandits sought refuge in his village. The Nigerian Defence Headquarters spokesperson, Major General Edward Buba, denies that any civilians were killed or targeted in the airstrikes. He claims that the strikes were carried out only after careful intelligence and surveillance to target terrorists, not civilians. However, Buba did not provide a death toll. This incident follows similar deadly airstrike incidents in Nigeria. In December of last year, a military drone strike killed at least 85 people in northern Kaduna. The military announced that it would investigate the incident. In January, the Nigerian Air Force, for the first time, acknowledged its responsibility for an airstrike that killed dozens of civilians a year ago. Witnesses of the recent airstrike described hearing the roar of jets in the morning, followed by explosions. One resident, Surajo Abubakar, tragically lost two wives and five children in the attack. He claims that a total of 33 bodies were counted. Another resident, Abu Waziri, states that he witnessed the aftermath of the airstrike, including the remains of the victims on the ground. He and others managed to gather the body parts and bury them. Two other residents also confirm that civilians were killed in the attack. Beyond the war zone in the northeast, Nigeria’s military is facing growing challenges from armed criminal gangs in the northwest and central regions. These criminal groups indiscriminately attack villages and carry out mass kidnappings, prompting the military to take action.