On Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria called for a thorough investigation into a military drone attack, following the state emergency agency's report in northern Kaduna state, which indicated that at least 85 people were killed over the weekend.

Governor Nasir el-Rufai, a religious leader, and eyewitnesses informed Reuters on Monday that numerous civilians lost their lives during the military drone operation aimed at targeting insurgents and bandits on Sunday night.

Providing the first official acknowledgment of the toll from the weekend incident, the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency confirmed on Tuesday that at least 85 individuals had lost their lives during the attack.

“The Northwest Zonal Office has received details from the local authorities that 85 dead bodies have so far been buried while a search is still ongoing,” the agency said.

Tinubu, who is attending the Cop28 Climate Summit in Dubai, said the “the bombing mishap” in a village at Tundun Biri, was “very unfortunate, disturbing, and painful,” his spokesman Ajuri Ngelale said in a statement.

“The President directs a thorough and full-fledged investigation into the incident and calls for calm while the authorities look diligently into the mishap,” said Ngelale.

The Nigerian Army has not provided any comments regarding the incident; however, the Air Force has denied its involvement in the mission leading to the attack on Sunday.

Nigeria's military, with support from the United States, Britain, and other non-Western allies, is engaged in a protracted war against Islamist insurgents in the northeast. Over the years, the military has conducted lethal aerial operations in various parts of the country.

Kaduna, situated 163 km (101 miles) from the capital Abuja, has witnessed an increased security challenge. In addition to the conflict in the northeast, the army and air force have been tasked with addressing the escalating threat in Nigeria's northwest and central regions, including Kaduna state.

These threats are posed by armed criminal groups carrying out violent attacks on villages and engaging in large-scale kidnappings.