Seven innocent civilians are reported to have been killed by a military airstrike that struck the Yauni community in the Zakka ward of Safana Local Government Area in Katsina State.
It has come to light that three security personnel, including two police officers and an operative from the state-owned Community Watch Corps (CWC), were previously killed in a gun battle with bandits.
A resident, who wished to remain anonymous, informed our reporter that the incident occurred following the local government elections on Saturday.
The bandits had allegedly intended to attack voters in Zakka village. However, upon learning of their malicious plan, security forces reportedly intervened to prevent its execution, which resulted in an exchange of fire with the bandits. During this confrontation, one police officer and one CWC operative lost their lives, while a third police officer sustained injuries and later died.
“It was after this incident that a military fighter jet, presumably dispatched for reinforcement, dropped a bomb on the Yauni community, south of Zakka, which resulted in the deaths of six family members, while one woman sustained injuries,” the source disclosed.
This is not the first instance of Katsina residents losing their lives due to accidental airstrikes.
In July 2022, at least two individuals were killed when a military fighter jet dropped a bomb in Kunkunni village, also within the Safana Local Government Area.
All attempts to obtain a response regarding Saturday’s attack from the police and military have proven unsuccessful.
