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Gusau, Zamfara State – By Prime Brief Media

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has added his voice to mounting international concern over a deadly airstrike on a market in Tumfa, Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, which Amnesty International says killed at least 100 civilians on Sunday. In a statement issued in Geneva on Wednesday, Türk described the reports as "shocking" and called for "urgent, independent, and transparent investigations" into the incident.

"I am deeply disturbed by reports that a military airstrike hit a crowded market in Tumfa, killing large numbers of civilians, including women and children. The protection of civilians must be the overriding priority in all military operations. Any allegations of violations of international humanitarian law must be promptly and impartially investigated," Türk said. The UN rights chief emphasised that accountability is essential to break cycles of violence and ensure public confidence in the security forces.

The call from the UN's top human rights official follows a detailed report by Amnesty International on Tuesday which stated that military jets struck the market while it was filled with traders, leaving many victims burnt beyond recognition. Witnesses told Amnesty that military aircraft had been seen hovering in the area around midday before returning hours later to launch the strike. Dozens of injured people are receiving treatment in hospitals in Zurmi and Shinkafi.

The Nigerian military has flatly rejected the allegations of civilian casualties. Director of Defence Information, Major General Edward Buba, in a statement on Wednesday, said the Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA conducted a precision strike based on verified intelligence that the location was a bandit assembly point. "No civilians were present at the targeted coordinates. The claim of civilian casualties is false and being disseminated by bandit sympathisers and criminal elements seeking to undermine military operations," the statement read. The military insisted that battle damage assessment confirmed that several armed bandits were neutralised.

The Zamfara State Government has sent a fact-finding team to the remote area, while the National Human Rights Commission has said it will investigate independently. This is the second mass-casualty airstrike allegation in a month, following a similar incident in Jilli in April that reportedly killed about 200 civilians, raising questions about rules of engagement and target verification processes.

Prime Brief Media will continue to track security and rescue efforts across the state as this story develops.

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