At least 100 civilians were killed in a Nigerian military airstrike on a crowded market in northwest Zamfara state, Amnesty International said Tuesday, urging authorities to launch an immediate investigation.
The airstrike, which hit the remote Tumfa market in Zurmi district Sunday, was the second to kill scores of people at a crowded market in northern Nigeria in a month.
Dozens of injured people were being treated at hospitals in Zurmi and nearby Shinkafi, Amnesty said, adding that many of those killed were women and girls.
The Nigerian military did not immediately respond to requests for comment but has previously denied targeting civilians, saying airstrikes are intelligence-led and hit only terrorist targets.
Citing witnesses, Amnesty said military jets had been spotted hovering around the area at midday and returned about two hours later and struck the crowded market.
