Government airstrikes in Nigeria’s northwest have targeted rebel positions following an attack on a police division that resulted in civilian casualties, officials reported on Monday.

The Nigerian air force has not revealed how many civilians lost their lives in the Safana region of Katsina state. Spokesperson Olusola Akinboyewa announced that an investigation is currently underway to confirm the death toll after the assault on law enforcement.

Akinboyewa expressed concern over the reports of civilian deaths, labeling them as “deeply troubling.” He emphasized that the airstrike was conducted in retaliation for the attack on the police. Amnesty International, however, has claimed that at least 10 individuals died as a result of the airstrike and has condemned it as part of an ongoing pattern of human rights violations committed by the Nigerian military. The organization is advocating for an independent inquiry into the incident.

This incident marks the second occurrence this year of a military airstrike resulting in civilian fatalities in Nigeria’s volatile northwestern region. Back in January, a Nigerian military operation aiming at armed groups in Zamfara state mistakenly took the lives of several civilians involved in community security efforts.

The Nigerian military frequently employs air raids as a strategy to confront extremist factions that have brought instability to the northern part of the country. Since 2017, these air operations have reportedly resulted in the deaths of around 400 civilians, according to research conducted by SBM Intelligence, a Lagos-based firm.

In December 2023, over 80 civilians were inadvertently killed during a religious gathering in Kaduna state. In May 2024, the military announced that two personnel would be court-martialed for the incident, yet the findings of the investigation remain undisclosed. This ongoing absence of transparency has drawn criticism from various human rights watchdogs.