Military kills 20 civilians in air strike attack in Nigeria

Nigeria Air Force has killed 16 civilians in air strike attacks

By: Emmanuel Akyereko

Amnesty International Nigeria says at least 20 civilians have been killed in an air strike attack carried out by the Nigeria Air Force (NAF).

However, the official numbers from independent sources in Nigeria put the number of victims from the incident is 16 with several other civilians sustaining various degrees of injuries.

The attacks were targeted at gang groups who have been terrorising locals in problematic kidnapping case which has sensationally risen in the West African nation.

Residents in the Tunga Kara village told local media that the victims from the air attacks were members of a vigilante group who were returning to their villages after chasing away a gang that has been tormenting the village and its members.

The military has confirmed conducting the air strikes, which it said had dealt “a decisive blow to bandits terrorising villages in the area”.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said it was investigating “reports of vigilante losses”.

“While the operation successfully eliminated several bandits and led to the recovery of some kidnap victims, the NAF views with grave concern reports of the loss of civilian lives in the course of the operation,” it said in a statement.