In a scathing critique of the Nigerian military, global rights group Amnesty International expressed deep concern over the tragic incident in Tudun Biri village, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where an accidental bombing claimed the lives of over 85 villagers and left numerous others injured.
The incident, which occurred on a fateful Sunday, has sparked outrage, prompting Amnesty International to denounce the military’s actions as “unacceptable.”
The rights advocacy organization did not mince words in condemning what it described as the “persistent unlawful killings of civilians” resulting from military air strikes.
Amnesty International raised serious allegations against the Nigerian military, accusing them of engaging in a cover-up and demanding swift justice for the victims of the Tudun Biri village bombing.
Highlighting the contradictory statements issued by the Nigerian military following the incident, Amnesty International pointed out the lack of clarity surrounding the circumstances of the air strike.
The initial statement from the Nigerian army in Kaduna attributed the tragedy to a mistake, while Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters later claimed that suspected bandits had mingled with civilians.
Such inconsistencies in the official narrative have only fueled skepticism and deepened concerns about accountability.
The victims of the Tudun Biri village bombing were laid to rest in two mass graves on December 4, 2023. Amnesty International’s Director in Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, decried the military’s recklessness, attributing it to the authorities’ failure to hold them accountable for a series of atrocities.
“These unlawful killings of civilians cannot be swept under the carpet,” Sanusi emphasized.
Calling for urgent action, Amnesty International urged the administration of President Bola Tinubu to establish an independent inquiry into the Tudun Biri village air strike.
The organization stressed the need for thorough investigations and, where criminal responsibility is indicated, insisted on fair trials for those suspected of being responsible.
Additionally, Amnesty International emphasized the importance of providing victims and their families with access to justice and effective remedies.
This incident, according to the rights group, is part of a disturbing pattern, with air strikes causing deadly consequences for civilians becoming increasingly routine.
Citing previous incidents, including the Mutumji village bombing in Zamfara state and the military airstrike in the Doma region of Nasarawa state, Amnesty International underscored the urgency of halting this alarming trend.
The organization drew attention to the January 2023 air strike in Galadima Kogo, Niger state, which claimed the lives of dozens of vigilantes, labeling it the deadliest since the 2017 air strike on Rann village that resulted in the deaths of 115 civilians.
As Amnesty International raises its voice against the recurring tragedies inflicted upon innocent civilians, the spotlight is now on the Nigerian government to address these concerns, uphold justice, and put an end to the disturbing pattern of air strikes with devastating consequences.
