Amnesty International, an international rights organisation, has charged that the military is attempting to conceal the deaths of residents in Sokoto settlements.
The Lakurawa terrorists were the target of military operations on December 25 in the settlements of Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa in Sokoto State’s Silame Local Government Area.
However, at least ten civilians lost their lives as a result of the operations.
Defence Headquarters reported on Friday that the people were killed by a secondary explosion from the terrorist organisation Lakurawa’s logistic facility.
Vice President Kashim Shettima apologised to the relatives of the incident’s victims despite this.
With the Sokoto event, 436 people have been killed in the nation’s last eight years as a result of unintentional hits.
There were three cases reported in 2023.
In the first, hundreds of villagers and vigilantes were allegedly mistakenly killed by a NAF aircraft in Galadima Kogo, Shiroro Local Government Area, Niger State, on January 24. The state administration claims that the incident left more than 8,000 individuals without a place to live.
On January 25, a day after the Niger event, Nasarawa State saw the deaths of at least 40 herders.
On December 3, during a religious festival in Tudun Biri, Kaduna State, civilians were blasted by a Nigerian Army drone.
Amnesty International stated that 127 villagers were killed in the incident, despite the government putting the death toll at 81.
On December 19, 2022, the NAF launched an airstrike at Mutumji Community in the Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, killing at least 64 people and injuring numerous more.
At least 20 people in Borno State were murdered by an unintentional blast on September 26, 2021.
On September 16, 2021, ten people were murdered in an airstrike in Yobe State’s Buwari hamlet.
On April 13, 2020, a NAF fighter jet bombed Sakotoku hamlet in the Damboa LGA of Borno State, killing 17 people, including children.
The Air Force unintentionally attacked a camp for internally displaced people in Rann, Borno State, in 2017. According to Doctors Without Borders, the attack left 120 people injured and at least 50 dead.
They have continued despite pledges that unintentional airstrikes would be reduced.
Isa Sanusi, the Country Director of Amnesty International, demanded the military provide information and documents on the airstrike to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation for an independent investigation during an interview with reporters on Sunday regarding the Sokoto incident.
“Amnesty International condemns what seems to be the Nigerian military’s frantic attempt to hide the horrifying airstrikes on Christmas Day that killed at least ten people and injured dozens more in two communities in Sokoto State’s Silame LGA.
“To allow for an independent, unbiased, and creative investigation that can result in justice for the victims, survivors, and their families, the Nigerian military must turn over all information and documents about the airstrike to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation. Homes and barns were destroyed as a result of the airstrike, depriving the inhabitants of food and shelter,” Sanusi said
He characterised the military’s defence as a disdain for both the suffering endured by survivors and the lives lost.
“The military initially implied that the air strike was carried out because the villagers might be harbouring Lakurawa insurgents,” he claimed, displaying a disturbing disregard for the lives of the fatalities and the suffering of the surviving. Another implication that the people were slain by bombs planted by Lakurawa rebels followed this. This is intolerable and demonstrates complete indifference to the lives of the villagers who were murdered, most of whom were asleep.”
He bemoaned that the government’s inability to hold the military responsible had given them the confidence to continue their misdeeds.
“The lives of rural residents, who have been continuously preparing for the next attack, are being further devastated by the increasing frequency of airstrikes that have fatal consequences for civilians.”The lives of the citizens the military is meant to protect are increasingly in jeopardy as a result of Nigerian authorities’ continued unwillingness to hold the military accountable and promote impunity. As a consequence, the military frequently launches airstrikes that murder people,” he said.
However, Sanusi urged the President to establish an investigation to look into the situation and make sure all involved are held accountable.
“The President Bola Tinubu administration must immediately establish an independent investigation into the airstrikes in Silame LG villages and, if the results show criminal responsibility, make sure that those suspected of being responsible are held to account in fair trials. Access to justice and efficient remedies must be made available to victims and their families,” he added.
