When will deadly military ‘mistakes’ end in Nigeria? When will there be consequences for this recklessness?
Development Diaries reports that at least 85 citizens in Tudun Biri village in Kaduna State recently lost their lives following a military bombing while they were observing an Islamic event.
The Kaduna State government has disclosed that the Nigerian army claimed responsibility for dropping the bomb on Tudun Biri. This development has, of course, triggered both local and international condemnation.
Such an incident has not only resulted in the loss of lives but has also eroded trust in the military’s ability to protect citizens.
It also constitutes a blatant violation of human rights because international humanitarian law and human rights conventions emphasise the protection of civilians during armed conflicts.
Protecting the people is the first responsibility of any military. The confidence that the public has in its armed services is damaged when the military accidentally injures civilians.
It is more disturbing because this is not the first time military airstrikes have ‘accidentally’ killed civilians in Nigeria. On Sunday, 18 December, 2022, around 64 people were killed in Mutumji village, Zamfara State, by a Nigerian airforce airstrike.
Over 40 civilians were killed in an airstrike by the Nigerian military on Tuesday, 24 January, 2023, in Doma, Nasarawa State, according to Amnesty International’s record.
Unfortunately, there have not been many responses in the past to investigations carried out on these killings. There are no consequences whatsoever. The victims have yet to receive justice, and, unfortunately, this deadly ‘mistake’ could continue if guilty personnel are not punished for their actions under the law.
Also, it is in the best interest of any nation to ensure that its armed forces adhere to the highest standards of conduct to maintain international credibility.
A critical aspect of addressing such errors is holding those responsible accountable. The Nigerian government and military authorities need to conduct thorough investigations into the incident, identify the causes, and take appropriate actions against individuals responsible for the error.
This not only serves justice but also sends a message that such errors will not be tolerated.
Development Diaries condemns this act by the Nigerian army, and calls for a thorough investigation, accountability, and measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
Specifically, we call on President Bola Tinubu to constitute an independent investigative committee to probe the incident, as the Nigerian military should not be investigating a matter it is involved in.
The Nigerian government and military must prioritise the protection of civilians, uphold human rights, and take steps to rebuild trust between the military and the civilian population while also taking steps to get its intelligence mechanism right.
