In a heart-wrenching revelation, Daily Trust Saturday exposes the devastating toll of accidental airstrikes by the Nigerian military on unarmed citizens in 16 communities across northern Nigeria over the past nine years. The military high command and Nigerian Air Force, while acknowledging collateral damage as inevitable in asymmetric warfare, face criticism from stakeholders who argue that many of these 416 casualties were avoidable. The victims, predominantly innocent children and women, have suffered in remote locations, their stories untold and unreported. This comprehensive report dissects specific incidents, emphasizing the urgent need for compensation, accountability, and a reevaluation of military operations. #NigeriaMilitary #AirstrikeErrors #HumanRights
Story: A staggering revelation by Daily Trust Saturday uncovers the heartbreaking toll of accidental airstrikes on unarmed citizens by the Nigerian military over the past nine years. The military high command and the Nigerian Air Force's consistent stance on the inevitability of collateral damage in asymmetric warfare faces stark opposition from stakeholders who argue that many of the 416 casualties could have been avoided.
Dating back to 2014, the incidents paint a grim picture of innocent lives lost due to errors in military airstrikes. The victims, primarily innocent children and women, have suffered silently in remote locations, their stories obscured by the lack of media coverage.
Specific cases highlight the magnitude of the issue. In Kayamla village, Borno State, at least 10 innocent citizens lost their lives on March 16, 2014, when airstrikes targeting terrorists misfired. The tragic incidents continued, with 53 internally displaced persons struck dead at Rann camp, Borno State, on January 17, 2017, and 20 civilians in Daglun community, Borno, on February 28, 2018, falling victim to the same type of airstrikes.
The devastation extended to Zamfara, where Ajia community witnessed the loss of 11 lives on April 11, 2019, due to military airstrikes. Gajigana village and Mainok, both in Borno State, experienced civilian casualties on July 2, 2019, and April 25, 2021, respectively. In Yobe State, on September 16, 2021, nine farmers were struck dead in Buwari village, and 20 fishermen lost their lives at Kwatar Daban Mascara in Borno State on September 26, the same year.
Further incidents include the tragic death of six children in Kuragba community, Niger State, on April 20 last year, and two casualties at Kunkunni village, Katsina State, on July 6, the same year, due to airstrikes. On December 17 last year, at Mutunji community, Zamfara State, at least 60 people were struck dead.
The North Central region also witnessed the unfortunate loss of 18 and 40 lives in Galkogo community, Niger State, and Rukubi community, Nasarawa State, on January 24 and 25, respectively. Before the recent Tundun Biri incident, reports emerged of a woman killed in an airstrike at Kwaki village, Niger State, in August this year, and three people killed on March 3 at Sabon Gida village, Kaduna State.
The aftermath of these incidents prompts calls for compensation, with experts like Abubakar Umar Garba urging the federal government to expedite payment to assuage the suffering of victims' relatives. Security sector reform expert Chukwuma Ume emphasizes the need for a thorough investigation, post-mortem analysis, and innovative changes within the armed forces.
The international community, represented by the United Nations Human Rights Office, calls for a review of rules of engagement and standard operating procedures to prevent such incidents in the future. Amidst the calls for justice, it remains to be seen whether the Nigerian government will take decisive action to compensate victims, conduct thorough investigations, and implement reforms to prevent further accidental airstrikes on innocent civilians.
Source: Daily Trust
