Two Nigerian military personnel are facing a court martial for their involvement in a military drone attack that resulted in the deaths of 85 villagers. The Defense Headquarters spokesperson announced that the personnel would undergo military justice proceedings for their actions. Nigeria’s military frequently conducts air raids to combat extremist violence in the northern region, often resulting in civilian casualties. Since 2017, some 400 civilians have been killed by such accidental strikes by the military, according to the Lagos-based SBM Intelligence security firm.
Authorities have stated that the two personnel will be subjected to military justice proceedings for their acts in the drone attack in December in the conflict-battered north of Nigeria. Investigations found that the civilians killed by the strike were mistaken for terrorists. The strike occurred while villagers observed a Muslim holiday in Kaduna state’s Tudun Biri village. Nigerian military authorities must provide more information on the investigation, compensate victims, and put in place systems to avoid future misfires, said Anietie Ewang, a Nigerian researcher with Human Rights Watch.
The President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, has expressed that such “avoidable errors are unacceptable and cannot be repeated.” Rights groups and activists have also condemned the attack and called for increased scrutiny of the military’s operations in conflict zones. One major concern has been the proliferation of drones within Nigerian security agencies without guiding principles on their use, according to Kabir Adamu, an Abuja-based security analyst. The military has assured that they will take extra precautions in the future to ensure that non-combatants are safe.
The Defense Headquarters spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, stated that the two personnel will face military justice proceedings “for acts of omission or commission,” but did not provide further details on the case. The December drone attack resulted in the deaths of 85 villagers, who were mistaken for terrorists by the military. Since 2017, hundreds of civilians have been killed in similar accidental strikes by the military. The incident has prompted calls for transparency and justice for the victims, with demands for more accountability and compensation for those affected by the misfires.
Nigeria’s military has been conducting air raids to combat extremist violence and rebel attacks that have destabilized the country’s northern region for more than a decade. The December misfire occurred during a Muslim holiday celebration in Kaduna state, leading to widespread condemnation of the attack. Human Rights Watch has called for a well-thought-out process to ensure accountability and justice for victims of such airstrikes. President Tinubu has vowed that such errors will not be repeated, and the military has pledged to take extra precautions in the future to prevent civilian casualties during their operations in conflict zones.
In response to the incident, Nigerian authorities will be holding the two military personnel accountable for their actions in the drone attack. It is crucial for the military to provide more information on the investigation, compensate the victims, and implement measures to prevent such misfires in the future. The proliferation of drones within Nigerian security agencies has raised concerns about the lack of guiding principles on their use, highlighting the need for clearer rules and regulations to avoid similar incidents. Rights groups and activists are calling for increased transparency and accountability in the military’s operations to prevent civilian casualties and ensure justice for the victims of such tragic events.
