Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua, has led national legislative reactions to the tragic airstrike on Tumfa Market in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, which reportedly claimed no fewer than 72 lives.
In a strongly worded commiseration statement issued on Wednesday, Yar’adua described the incident as “heartbreaking and unacceptable,” extending condolences to the government and people of Zamfara State as well as families who lost loved ones in the incident, which occurred on Sunday, 11 May 2026.
According to early reports from the area, the airstrike hit the bustling rural market while civilians were engaged in daily trading activities, leaving dozens dead and many others injured. Survivors are currently receiving treatment at hospitals in Zurmi, Shinkafi, and Gusau, including the Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital.
Senator Yar’adua said the scale of destruction and the reported manner of deaths underscore the urgent need for caution in military operations conducted in civilian-populated areas.
He stressed that the protection of innocent lives must remain paramount in all security engagements, especially in regions like Zamfara that continue to suffer from persistent insecurity and banditry.
The Northern Senators Forum, under his leadership, called for a “thorough, transparent, and impartial investigation” into the circumstances surrounding the airstrike, insisting that victims and their families deserve truth, justice, and where necessary, compensation.
Yar’adua also expressed solidarity with the bereaved families, noting the emotional toll of mass casualties in a single incident, and prayed for the swift recovery of those injured.
He further reiterated the need for stronger, more precise, and humane security strategies in the fight against terrorism and armed banditry, warning that civilian populations must not bear the unintended consequences of such operations.
“Zamfara and the entire North have borne far too much of the burden of insecurity,” the statement emphasized, as the senator urged authorities to ensure that efforts to restore peace do not result in further loss of innocent lives.
Meanwhile, public concern continues to grow across the state as investigations into the airstrike are expected to commence, with calls mounting for clarity and accountability over the tragic incident.
Senator Abdulaziz Yar’adua Demands Probe Into Zamfara Airstrike Tragedy
