Nigeria Airstrike Victims Need Justice
Authorities should establish clear compensation procedures to ensure military accountability
- go through: Anyiti Yuwan |African Branch Researcher
- Photo: Nigerian Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Taurid Ragbaja (centre) and other community leaders sit next to the graves of victims of Army drone strikes in Tudumbiri village, Nigeria, on December 5, 2023. © 2023 AP Photo Kehinde Gbenga
A year after a devastating airstrike accidentally killed 85 people during religious celebrations in Tundun Biri, Nigeria’s Kaduna state, the state government has begun disbursing funds to victims as part of reparations efforts and implement Some pledged to carry out social and infrastructure projects in communities, including building health centers. It’s a positive step, but it fails to address the full tragedy of the victims, some of whom suffered life-changing injuries.
While these reparative measures may bring some benefits, they do little to meet victims’ needs for true justice and reform of military operations. Errant airstrikes continue. April, Unexpected attack in Zamfara state leaves 33 deadAccording to media reports. September, another 24 dead in Kaduna state.
Since 2014, hundreds of people killed Security forces claimed the attacks were aimed at bandits or members of the Islamist militant group Boko Haram, but in fact they targeted local civilians.
True justice requires more than monetary handouts decided by government officials. It calls for the establishment of a transparent and standardized compensation process that includes good faith consultation with victims and takes into account the extent of loss and suffering to provide victims with fair compensation for their injuries and trauma.
Although the military stated Two army personnel were court-martialed over the Tudun Biri airstrike, but it provided no information about the investigation or its progress.
The lack of meaningful action to hold perpetrators accountable, coupled with a failure to reform military operations, raises serious questions about the authorities’ commitment to justice and oversight.
Until a clear, robust and transparent process is established to compensate victims and prevent further wrongful airstrikes, the authorities’ efforts will do little to restore public trust or prevent further bloodshed.
