At least 20 people were killed in an airstrike carried out by the Nigerian Air Force in Zamfara state over the weekend. According to officials, the strike targeted an armed militia group that was planning to attack nearby villages. According to Reuters, the airstrike also destroyed 21 motorcycles used by the group.

Air Force spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the operation was carried out after intelligence reports indicated “a significant number of terrorists were massing and preparing to strike unsuspecting settlements.” He added that the airstrike prevented a big planned attack on nearby villages.

According to Ejodame, the same group had killed farmers and kidnapped several civilians, including women and children. During the attack, two local vigilantes were also killed, and two others were injured in the crossfire.

RESIDENTS SAY GUARDS WERE MISTAKENLY HIT

Amnesty International and locals reported the airstrike. “Attacks by bandits clearly warrant a response from the state, but to launch reckless airstrikes into villages — again and again — is absolutely unlawful,” Amnesty said in a statement.

Meanwhile, locals said that airstrikes took place on Sunday in Maraya and Wabi villages. These areas are often under attack by bandits in northwest Nigeria.

However, some locals said the airstrike killed members of their own community defence group instead of the bandits.

“The military aircraft arrived and started firing, killing at least 20 of our people,” said Abdullahi Ali, a resident of Mani and a member of a local hunter militia group.

Another resident, Auwal Idris, said that a jet dropped a bomb close to where guards were fighting the bandits, killing 20 guards.

Nigeria’s military has previously admitted to mistakenly targeting civilians while chasing armed groups in the region. In January, at least 16 people were killed in an airstrike in another part of Zamfara.

With inputs from Reuters