At least 16 civilians were killed in a military air raid in the northwestern Nigerian state of Zamfara after a pilot mistook local self-defence forces for criminal gangs, residents told AFP on Sunday.
The incident was the second deadly accidental airstrike to target civilians since the December 25 bombing of two villages in a raid targeting jihadists in neighbouring Sokoto state.
Nigeria's military has been fighting criminal gangs, known locally as bandits, who have long terrorised communities in northwestern and central Nigeria.
The fighters raid villages, kill and abduct residents for ransom and burn homes after looting them.
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