The recent airstrike in Sokoto State, which resulted in the deaths of ten civilians and injuries to others, highlights a recurring pattern of alleged human rights abuses by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in its counterterrorism efforts.
Development Diaries reports that the fighter jet was targeting Lakurawa terrorists in the areas, but in the process, dropped explosives on innocent villagers.
This is not the first time an incident like this has occurred with the Nigerian Air Force.
Despite assurances of precision targeting, civilian casualties from military airstrikes have become a troubling trend in Nigeria’s fight against insurgency and banditry.
The Sokoto incident is part of a broader issue of insufficient accountability for such operations, raising serious concerns about the safeguards in place to protect innocent lives during military interventions.
This development undermines public trust in the military and calls for urgent reforms.
Over the past decade, numerous instances of accidental airstrikes have claimed the lives of innocent Nigerians. The Sokoto airstrike is the latest in a string of incidents, including the September 2024 bombing in Kaduna that killed at least 23 civilians.
In many of these cases, the military has either denied wrongdoing or justified its actions by citing intelligence reports, as in the Sokoto case, where the NAF claimed the victims had links to the Lakurawa terrorist group.
However, independent investigations and witness accounts often contradict these claims, revealing discrepancies in the military’s narrative.
Despite repeated occurrences, there have been no significant accountability or consequences for the military’s actions.
Since 2014, over 450 civilians have reportedly been killed in similar airstrikes across northern Nigeria, according to findings by Daily Trust.
There have been 12 documented incidences of the NAF bombing the wrong target between 2014 and 2024, including the airstrike in Mainok on 25 April, 2021, that killed 30 soldiers.
Yet, there is little evidence of comprehensive investigations, let alone disciplinary actions against those responsible.
This lack of accountability does not just encourage a culture of impunity; it also risks escalating grievances among affected communities, potentially fueling further instability.
The absence of accountability extends beyond the immediate perpetrators to the systemic failure of NAF oversight and civilian protection protocols.
While the NAF frequently cites credible intelligence and preliminary surveys as the basis for its operations, the repeated targeting of civilian areas suggests gaps in these processes.
Furthermore, the lack of independent oversight to verify military claims and investigate incidents worsens the problem. Efforts to seek redress through formal channels have been limited, leaving victims’ families with little recourse.
This trend shows the urgent need for institutional reforms to address human rights abuses in Nigeria’s military operations.
Development Diaries calls on NAF authorities, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, to strengthen transparency and accountability mechanisms to investigate and prosecute those responsible for civilian casualties.
We also call on the CAS to ensure that counterinsurgency efforts respect human rights and uphold international humanitarian law.
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