In a tragic incident on June 2, 2025, a Nigerian military jet mistakenly targeted and killed approximately 20 members of a local vigilante group in Garin Mani, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State. The airstrike was intended to neutralize armed bandits who had earlier attacked the village, resulting in several deaths and the abduction of over 50 residents, primarily farmers. Eyewitnesses reported that as the vigilantes pursued the fleeing bandits, the military aircraft misidentified them as the assailants and launched an attack.
Survivors recounted evading death by feigning injury during the assault. This incident marks another in a series of similar occurrences, with previous accidental airstrikes in Tungar Kara and Gidan Bisa leading to civilian casualties. As of the report’s release, the Nigerian military had not issued an official statement regarding the latest event.
