The United Nations expressed its condemnation on Wednesday over an airstrike that took place in a village in northern Nigeria, resulting in the deaths of several dozen civilians. The incident occurred due to a misinterpretation of activities at the scene.
The Nigerian army drone, which was intended to target armed groups, mistakenly killed at least 85 civilians in northwest Kaduna State on Sunday. This tragedy has sparked outrage and is now being regarded as one of the deadliest military bombing accidents in the country.
Prompted by the distressing incident, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered an investigation into the matter. The army has admitted the mistake, acknowledging that the drone strike unintentionally hit the village of Tudun Biri while residents were celebrating a Muslim festival.
The UN human rights office expressed its deep concern regarding the attack, emphasizing that this is the latest in a series of four airstrikes that have led to significant civilian casualties since 2017.
Seif Magango, spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office, stated in a press release, “While we understand that the authorities have classified the civilian deaths as accidental, we urge them to take all necessary measures to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure in the future.” He further urged a review of rules of engagement and standard operating procedures to prevent such incidents from recurring.
Militia gangs, commonly referred to as bandits, have long instilled fear in parts of northwest Nigeria. They operate from their bases deep within forests, raiding villages, looting, and kidnapping residents for ransom.
The military, explaining the circumstances leading to the airstrike, announced that aerial patrols observed a group of people whom they “misinterpreted their pattern of activities to be similar to that of the bandits.” Subsequently, the drone strike was launched.
“We are particularly alarmed by reports that the strike was based on the ‘pattern of activities’ of those at the scene, which was wrongly analyzed and misinterpreted,” expressed Magango. “There are serious concerns as to whether so-called ‘pattern of life’ strikes adequately comply with international law.”
