Amnesty International has called on President Bola Tinubu to launch an independent investigation into the deaths of 436 civilians caused by military airstrikes over the past eight years, including the most recent incident in Sokoto State.
On December 25, a military operation targeting the Lakurawa terrorist group in Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa communities of Sokoto State resulted in the deaths of at least 10 citizens.
While the Defence Headquarters attributed the fatalities to a “secondary explosion” caused by the terrorists’ logistic base, Amnesty International has criticised this explanation as an attempt to evade accountability.
The Sokoto tragedy adds to a growing list of similar incidents, including January 2023 airstrikes in Niger and Nasarawa states which killed dozens of vigilantes and herders; December 2022 strikes which killed 64 civilians in Mutumji, Zamfara State; 2021 bombings in Yobe and Borno states which claimed over 30 lives; and 2017 “mistaken” strike on an IDP camp in Rann, Borno State which killed at least 50 people and injured 120.
Despite repeated reassurances from the military, these incidents continue to occur, raising concerns about operational protocols and civilian safety.
Speaking with PUNCH on Sunday, Amnesty International’s Country Director, Isa Sanusi, condemned the military’s response to the Sokoto strike, describing it as “disregard for the lives of the victims and the pain of survivors.”
He called on the military to release all records of the incident to the Attorney General’s office for an impartial investigation.
Sanusi criticised the government’s failure to hold the military accountable, stating, “persistent failure to hold the military to account is encouraging impunity and increasingly endangering the lives of the civilians.”
Amnesty International urged President Tinubu to establish an independent inquiry into the Sokoto airstrike and other incidents; ensure those responsible face justice through fair trials; provide victims and their families with access to justice and adequate remedies.
Sanusi concluded by emphasising the need for the government to prioritise civilian protection and ensure that such tragic errors are prevented in the future.
