The NAF acknowledged the operation successfully targeted bandits, claiming to have set "decisive blows" against them while promising an ongoing investigation into the incident. Reports suggest the victims were returning home after chasing off marauding bandits when the air strike occurred. Residents have reported at least 16 casualties, and Amnesty International indicated that the death toll could be as high as 20, calling for an immediate and thorough investigation into the strikes that took place in Tunga Kara village.

In recent years, Nigeria has witnessed a surge in violence from criminal groups known as bandits, who engage in raids, killings, and kidnappings for ransom in northern regions. This has raised concerns about the military's response strategies, particularly in light of previous tragic incidents involving air strikes on civilians. Advocacy groups and human rights organizations have urged those responsible to reflect on the impact of such military operations on innocent lives and challenged the legitimacy of air raids as an acceptable law enforcement method in this context.

As investigations unfold, the incident underscores the complex dynamics of Nigeria's ongoing struggle against banditry and raises critical discussions about the balance between security efforts and the protection of civilian lives.