The Nigerian military stands accused by Amnesty International of attempting to conceal the truth surrounding the deaths of civilians in Sokoto State during a December 25th operation targeting the Lakurawa terrorist group. The operation, conducted in the Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa communities, resulted in the tragic loss of at least ten civilian lives. While the Defence Headquarters attributed the deaths to secondary explosions from the terrorist group’s logistic base, this explanation has been met with skepticism and calls for a thorough investigation. Vice President Kashim Shettima’s apology to the bereaved families underscores the gravity of the incident and the need for accountability. This tragic event adds to a disturbing trend of accidental strikes by the Nigerian military, bringing the total number of civilian casualties to a staggering 436 over the past eight years.
The Sokoto incident is far from isolated. 2023 alone witnessed three separate incidents of accidental strikes with devastating consequences. In January, a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft mistakenly killed dozens of vigilantes and residents in Galadima Kogo, Niger State, displacing over 8,000 people. Just a day later, another incident in Nasarawa State claimed the lives of approximately 40 herders. Furthermore, a drone operated by the Nigerian Army bombed residents of Tudun Biri, Kaduna State, during a religious celebration in December, resulting in a disputed death toll ranging from 81 (official government figures) to 127 (Amnesty International’s estimate). These recurring incidents underscore the urgent need for reforms within the military to prevent future tragedies.
The pattern of accidental strikes extends beyond 2023. In December 2022, an air strike on the Mutumji community in Zamfara State resulted in at least 64 deaths and numerous injuries. In 2021, separate air strikes in Borno and Yobe states claimed the lives of approximately 20 and 10 residents, respectively. A particularly devastating incident occurred in 2020 when a NAF fighter jet bombed Sakotoku village in Borno State, killing 17 people, including children. Perhaps the most infamous incident occurred in 2017 when an IDP camp in Rann, Borno State, was accidentally bombed, resulting in at least 50 deaths and 120 injuries, according to Doctors Without Borders. Despite repeated assurances from the government and the military, these accidental strikes continue to plague civilian populations.
Amnesty International’s Country Director, Isa Sanusi, has vehemently condemned the military’s attempts to obfuscate the circumstances surrounding the Sokoto incident. He has called for the military to provide all relevant details and records to the Attorney General’s office for an independent and impartial investigation. Sanusi criticized the military’s shifting narratives, initially suggesting that the villagers were harboring insurgents and later attributing the deaths to bombs planted by the insurgents themselves. He characterized these explanations as demonstrating a profound disregard for the lives lost and the suffering of the survivors.
Sanusi highlighted the deeply concerning trend of these air strikes becoming routine, further exacerbating the precarious lives of rural dwellers living in constant fear of the next attack. He attributed this pattern to the government’s failure to hold the military accountable, fostering a culture of impunity and placing civilian lives at increasing risk. Sanusi emphasized that the military’s primary responsibility is to protect civilians, not endanger them. He called on President Bola Tinubu to establish an independent inquiry into the Sokoto air strikes and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice through fair trials. He also stressed the importance of providing victims and their families with access to justice and effective remedies.
The repeated incidents of accidental strikes by the Nigerian military paint a grim picture of civilian vulnerability and raise serious questions about operational procedures and accountability within the armed forces. Amnesty International’s call for an independent investigation and the implementation of measures to prevent future tragedies echoes the demands of many Nigerians who seek justice for the victims and an end to the cycle of violence. The government’s response to this latest incident will be a critical test of its commitment to protecting its citizens and upholding the rule of law. The international community must also continue to pressure the Nigerian government to address this pressing issue and ensure that those responsible for these tragic errors are held to account. Only through transparency, accountability, and meaningful reforms can the Nigerian military regain the trust of the people it is sworn to protect.
