Nigeria Military Denies Civilian Deaths in Zamfara Airstrike

Nigeria's military denied on Tuesday claims by Amnesty International that an airstrike killed about 100 civilians at a market in the country's volatile northwest over the weekend.

The rights group stated on Monday that the strike occurred on Sunday in Tumfa, Zamfara state, targeting a crowded market. A Red Cross official in the state, Ibrahim Bello Garba, confirmed the airstrike to the Associated Press and reported multiple civilian deaths. "In one village alone, 80 people were buried and there is no evidence that any of those people killed is a bandit. They are all civilians. The majority of them are young girls and small boys," said Isa Sanusi, director of Amnesty International Nigeria.

Military spokesperson Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja acknowledged the airstrike but rejected reports of civilian casualties. "No verifiable evidence of civilian casualties as being suggested in the media has been established," he told the Associated Press. "Civilians are not the target, and everything is being done to avoid civilian casualties." He added that operations against armed groups in the area were ongoing.

The incident highlights challenges in Nigeria's campaign against bandit groups and...