A military airstrike targeting bandits mistakenly killed six people in Yauni Community, Zakka Ward, Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Security sources confirmed to Channels Television on Monday that the victims, all from the same family, included three children, a man, and two women.
The incident occurred following Saturday’s local government elections, after security operatives attempted to prevent a planned bandit attack on voters in Zakka village.
Eyewitnesses reported that security forces, including the police and members of the State Community Watch Corps (CWC), engaged the bandits in a fierce gun battle. Two police officers and a CWC operative were killed on the spot, while another officer later succumbed to injuries.
Following the clash, a military fighter jet was deployed for reinforcement but mistakenly dropped a bomb on Yauni Community, located in the southern part of Zakka village.
“As a result of this, we lost our men in the gun battle. Another woman was also left injured,” an eyewitness said.
Military and government authorities have yet to comment on the incident.
Similar incidents have occurred in the past. In July 2022, a military airstrike mistakenly killed at least two people in Kunkunni village, also in Safana LGA. Earlier in the year, an airstrike in Zamfara State mistakenly killed 16 people, including members of the Zamfara Community Protection Guard (ZCPG), local vigilantes, and residents.
