The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has denied reports alleging that civilians were killed during a recent military air strike on Tumfa market in Zurmi LGA of Zamfara State, insisting that there is no verified evidence to support the claims.
Gatekeepers News reports that the military was reacting to reports by Amnesty International and some media organisations which claimed that dozens of civilians lost their lives after a missile strike hit the market on Sunday.
According to AFP, the casualty figure could be as high as 72, while Reuters quoted Amnesty International as saying at least 100 civilians may have died in the attack.
Speaking on Wednesday, Major General Michael Onoja, director of defence media operations, said the operation targeted a confirmed gathering of militant leaders and was carried out based on multi-sourced intelligence. He added that the mission complied with international humanitarian law and the military’s rules of engagement.
Onoja stated that no credible or substantiated evidence of civilian casualties had been established through official assessments or independent verification. He also described reports circulating online as misleading and unverified.
The DHQ maintained that the strike was aimed strictly at armed non-state actors linked to banditry and terrorism in the north-west region. According to the military, post-strike assessments indicated that several terrorists were neutralised during the operation.
However, rights groups and local witnesses have continued to question the operation, with Amnesty International calling for an independent investigation into the incident.
