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The Nigerian army has accidentally killed at least 85 civilians in a drone strike. 85 dead have already been buried after the attack, which was intended to be aimed at rebels, in a village in the northwestern state of Kaduna on Sunday, the disaster management authority said on its Facebook page. The search for more victims is ongoing. A spokesperson confirmed the information on Tuesday.
The army had admitted on Monday that it had accidentally hit villagers who had been celebrating a Muslim festival in the village of Tudun Biri during a drone strike against militias on Sunday evening. Initially, the army did not provide any information on the number of fatalities. Villagers also spoke of 85 dead, including many women and children.
Air strikes against bandit militias
The Nigerian armed forces are carrying out air strikes against so-called bandit militias in the northwest and northeast of the country. The gangs are mainly active in northwestern Nigeria, their bases are located deep in the forests. They raid and plunder villages and kidnap residents for ransom.
In northeastern Nigeria, jihadists had also taken control of large areas, but have recently been pushed back. More than 40,000 people have been killed in fighting since 2009 and two million people have been displaced.
