Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua, has spearheaded the national legislative response to the tragic airstrike on Tumfa Market in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The attack reportedly claimed no fewer than 72 lives, prompting swift condemnation and calls for action from the Senate caucus representing the North.
In a strongly worded commiseration statement issued on Wednesday, Yar’adua described the incident as “heartbreaking and unacceptable.” He extended condolences to the government and people of Zamfara State, as well as to the families who lost loved ones in the tragedy. 
The airstrike occurred on Sunday, 11 May 2026. Early reports from the area indicate that the strike hit the bustling rural market while civilians were engaged in their daily trading activities.
The impact left 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 the deaths underscore the urgent need for caution in military operations conducted in civilian-populated areas. He stressed that such operations must prioritize civilian safety at every stage.
He reiterated 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.
Under Yar’adua’s leadership, the Northern Senators Forum called for a “thorough, transparent, and impartial investigation” into the circumstances surrounding the airstrike. The forum insisted that victims and their families deserve truth, justice, and, where necessary, compensation.
Yar’adua also expressed solidarity with the bereaved families, noting the profound emotional toll of mass casualties in a single incident. He prayed for the swift recovery of those injured and urged authorities to provide adequate medical support.
He further emphasized the need for stronger, more precise, and humane security strategies in the fight against terrorism and armed banditry. “Zamfara and the entire North have borne far too much of the burden of insecurity,” he said, warning that civilian populations must not bear the unintended consequences of such operations.
Meanwhile, public concern continues to grow across the state as investigations into the airstrike are expected to commence. Calls for clarity and accountability over the tragic incident are mounting, with citizens demanding answers and preventive measures.
