At least six children and 12 women were among 20 people killed as the junta’s air force personnel bombed a rural market in Yoe Ngu village under Ponnagyun township, 20 miles north of the State capital city, Sittwe.

Initially, the Arakan Army (AA) reported as 17 dead and 15 injured, but the number increased after bodies of two more children were found in the rubble and one of the injured individuals passed away. They all were buried in the village graveyard.

The six children victims include  Ma Myo Thet Nwe (6), Ma Saw Thazin Myo (14), Maung Pyae Nyein Soe (13), Ma Ei Myat Wai (15) with two others, who are yet to be identified.

The  women victims include Daw Ma Thein Khin (56), Daw San San Win (39), Daw Hla Tha Nu (56), Daw Aye San Hla (51), Daw Yin Yin Mu (40), Daw Zin Mar Aye (36), Daw Ma Chey (31), Daw Saw Mya Yin (53), Ma Ei Myat Wai (15) and etc.

The male victims are U Oo Mya Tin (53), U Maung Win Kyaw (53) and U Saw Tin Hla (40).

The injured also include two children namely  Ma Myat Sandar Soe (6) and Ma Thwe Thwe Phyo (7).

At 2:07 pm on 24 February, the military commission air force personnel bombed the market square killing the innocent civilians.

The locals stated that the village is home to many displaced people and the junta forces deliberately targeted them.

U Aung Thein Shwe from Yoe Ngu village said that the military people dropped the lethal bombs putting the villagers in great danger.

Many houses and shops in the village were also damaged due to bombing.

Daw Khaing Kyawt Yee from the village denounced the bombing on civilians. She also criticized the junta chief Min Aung Hlaing for the cruel actions.

Yoe Ngu village is located on the Sittwe-Rangoon union highway and it gives shelter to many displaced families.

Rakhine residents say after facing a series of defeats against the AA fighters the military government targeted the common people who have no alignment with the revolutionary forces.