A coalition of civil society organizations (CSOs) in the country has strongly condemned the killing of innocent villagers by Nigerian Air Force airstrike in Tungar Kara, Maradun Local Government Area, Zamfara State, on January 11, 2025.
A statement on Friday by the mouthpiece of the organisation, the Community of Practice Against Mass Atrocities, on behalf of eighteen other CSOs, described the killing as a “recurring pattern of avoidable carnage.”
The tragic incident, according to the statement, claimed at least 20 lives and devastated a significant part of the community.
The CSOs stated that the airstrike in Tungar Kara is not an isolated incident, claiming there have been at least 21 similar “erroneous” airstrikes, resulting in the deaths of more than 473 civilians and injuring several others.
“Since February 2014, when a Nigerian military aircraft bombed Daglun Village in Borno State, killing at least 20 people, similar erroneous incidents have occurred in at least 21 airstrikes, resulting in the deaths of more than 473 civilians and injuring several others. These tragic incidents, which have all occurred in established indigenous communities and recognized IDP camps, suggest a disregard for the right to life and a troubling pattern of negligence within the Nigerian military.
“It is disconcerting that the military continues to explain away these incidents as unavoidable collateral damage in their fight against terrorism, perpetuating a cycle of impunity and indifference. Even when public outrage forces an admission of responsibility, as seen in the Tundun Biri incident in Kaduna in December 2023, meaningful accountability and reparative actions remain absent.
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The statement further lamented, “Rather than be accountable, the military routinely denies culpability, often claiming that only security threats were neutralized. Under public pressure, it promises investigations, which rarely lead to actionable outcomes. When admissions of errors eventually surface, there is no concrete plan to prevent future tragedies or to provide compensation and rehabilitation for those affected by these horrific violations of human rights.
“The militarys decade-long track record hallmarked by 22 accidental airstrikes highlights the critical need for an immediate review of civilian safety protocols, aviation equipment standards, intelligence systems, proportionality in the use of force, and the retraining of bomber pilots.
To forestall future occurrences, the CSOs are demanding that the Nigerian Government take immediate action to address these systemic issues. They charged the federal government to conduct:
“Independent Investigations: The Nigerian Government must conduct an independent, comprehensive, and transparent investigation of the Tungar Kara bombing and all other accidental attacks on civilians to ensure accountability.
“Public Disclosure: Findings from these investigations must be published and accessible to the public in a timely manner to promote transparency and rebuild public trust.
“Operational Reforms: The Nigerian Military must review its operational protocols to enhance intelligence gathering, improve precision in targeting, and minimize civilian casualties during military operations.
“Justice for Affected Communities: The National Human Rights Commission must leverage its authority to demand accountability and justice for affected individuals. This includes ensuring equitable compensation and rehabilitation for victims and their families to help them recover from the profound loss and devastation.
The CSOs emphasize that an effective counterterrorism strategy hinges on a strong public-private partnership, which can only thrive when deep-seated distrust in the government and its security agencies is addressed. This requires unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, professionalism, respect for human rights, and continuous improvement within the Nigerian military to prevent further civilian harm and restore public confidence.
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
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