An unconfirmed 120 people died in the attack, according to Amnesty International’s Nigeria office.
A Nigerian military attack that used drones to target rebels instead killed some civilians, government and military officials said on Monday.
The misfire during a religious celebration was the latest such errant bombing of local residents in Nigeria’s violence hotspots.
Muslims observing Maulud on Sunday night in Kaduna state’s Igabi council area were “mistakenly killed and many others injured” by the drone “targeting terrorists and bandits,” Governor Uba Sani said.
Officials did not confirm the number of people killed, but a large crowd typically gathers in the state to celebrate that holiday that commemorates the bird of the Prophet Muhammad.
Amnesty International’s Nigeria office said 120 people were killed in the attack, citing reports of its workers and volunteers in the area.
“Many of them were children (and) more dead bodies are being discovered,” Isa Sanusi, the organisation’s director in Nigeria, said.
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At least 50 bodies were recovered, according to Igabi resident Mustapha Rufai. “They said they mistakenly threw a bomb on them,” he said.
Extremist and rebel attacks have ravaged parts of Nigeria’s northwest and central regions.
