Military air strike kills at least 20 people in northwest Nigeria
Al JazeeraMAY 31
Nigerian Airstrike Kills 20 Civilians in Zamfara State
Above: Nigerian Airforce fighter planes pass above Aso-Rock in Abuja during the 60th Independence Celebration on Oct. 1 2020. Image copyright: Kola Sulaimon/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-government narrative
The Nigerian military acted on credible intelligence about terrorists massing for attacks and successfully eliminated over 20 armed militants while destroying 21 motorcycles. These precision strikes are necessary to protect innocent communities from bandits who kill farmers and kidnap women and children. Unfortunately, some vigilantes were caught in the crossfire during legitimate counterterrorism operations.
Government-critical narrative
Reckless airstrikes by the Nigerian government keep killing innocent civilians who are trying to defend their communities from bandits. The military repeatedly bombs vigilantes and villagers instead of the actual criminals, creating a pattern of unlawful attacks. These tragic mistakes show the need for better intelligence and accountability in military operations.