SPECIAL REPORT: How NAF Jets Accidentally Bombed Citizens 18 Times in 12 Years
By Kabir Abdulsalam,
Between 2014 and 2026, Nigeria’s counter-insurgency and counter-banditry campaigns have increasingly relied on airpower deployed by the Nigerian Air Force, particularly in operations against Boko Haram/ISWAP in the North-East and armed bandits in the North-West.
While these air operations have recorded tactical successes against insurgents, they have also produced a troubling parallel history and repeated accidental airstrikes on civilians.
Investigations from humanitarian trackers and media reports suggest at least 17 documented incidents of “erroneous strikes” over 12 years, leaving about 400 civilians dead, depending on verification thresholds. Affected states cut across Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Niger, and Nasarawa—reflecting the geographic spread of Nigeria’s insecurity and the operational reach of air assets.
Military authorities often describe such incidents as “misidentification errors” or “collateral damage,” while rights groups argue they reflect deeper systemic issues in intelligence gathering, target confirmation, and coordination between ground and air units.
March 16, 2014 – Kayamla, Borno State: Early reported strike killed about 10 civilians during counter-insurgency operations, signalling the risks of expanding air operations in civilian-populated conflict zones.
January 17, 2017 – Rann, Borno State: One of the deadliest incidents. A strike on an IDP camp killed about 40 civilians, including aid workers. The military said the camp was mistaken for a terrorist enclave.
February 28, 2018 – Daglun, Borno State: An airstrike killed 20 civilians, marking one of the early incidents of mass civilian casualties in the counter-insurgency campaign.
April 11, 2019 – Tangaram & Ajia, Zamfara State: A strike in the North-West killed 6 civilians, as air operations expanded beyond the North-East into banditry-prone regions.
July 2, 2019 – Gajigana, Borno State: At least 13 civilians were killed when a strike hit the community during ongoing military operations.
April 13, 2020 – Sakotoku, Borno: At least 17 civilians killed, including children.
April 25, 2020 – Mainok, Borno: About 30 civilians killed, underscoring continued civilian exposure in active war zones.
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September 16, 2021 – Buhari Village, Yunusari LGA, Yobe State: A Nigerian military airstrike carried out between September 14 and 16 hit Buhari village, resulting in the deaths of 12 civilians. Reports indicate that the victims were mistakenly targeted during operations against suspected insurgents.
September 26, 2021 – Kwatar Daban Masara, Lake Chad region, Borno State:
An airstrike on the area led to the deaths of at least 20 civilians, most of them fishermen operating in the Lake Chad axis, after being misidentified as insurgents.
As insecurity shifted westward, air operations extended into banditry-prone states, widening the risk profile.
April 2022 – Kurebe, Shiroro LGA, Niger State: Strike killed 6 children, sparking national outrage.
December 18, 2022 – Mutumji, Zamfara State: About 64 civilians killed, one of the worst incidents in the North-West theatre.
January 23, 2023 – Doma axis (Nasarawa/Benue border): Over 40 herders killed in mistaken targeting.
January 24, 2023 – Galadima Kogo, Niger State: Dozens of vigilantes reportedly killed during anti-bandit operations.
December 3, 2023 – Tudun Biri, Kaduna State: A drone strike during a Maulud gathering killed about 120 civilians. The military later admitted responsibility, apologised publicly, and announced disciplinary measures, marking one of the most consequential accountability moments in recent years.
Despite reforms and operational reviews, similar incidents continued.
December 25, 2024 – Sokoto State (Gidan Sama/Rumtuwa): Strike killed about 13 civilians, mistaken for fleeing bandits.
January 11, 2025 – Zamfara State (Tungar Kara/Dangebe axis): About 16 civilians killed, including vigilantes and farmers.
June 3, 2025 – Maru LGA, Zamfara (Maryam and Wabi): Approximately 20 civilians killed in another mistaken strike.
April 11, 2026 – Yobe State (Jilli Market, Geidam axis): A major market strike during counter-terror operations reportedly killed over 50 civilians and terrorists, including traders and children.
While the military has repeatedly insisted such incidents are regrettable errors in asymmetric warfare, critics argue the consistency of occurrences points to systemic targeting and verification gaps, not isolated mistakes.
Nigeria’s air campaign has undeniably weakened insurgent mobility and disrupted bandit networks across multiple theatres. Yet, the same campaign has produced a parallel civilian casualty trail stretching over a decade.
