ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Two Nigerian soldiers will face court-martial over the deaths of 85 villagers in a military drone attack in December in the conflict-ravaged north of the West African country, authorities said, prompting calls from a rights group on Friday for more transparency and justice for victims.
The two officials will be subject to military justice proceedings “for acts of omission or commission” after investigations found that the civilians killed in the attack “were mistaken for terrorists”, Nigeria’s Defense Headquarters spokesman said. Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, in a statement on Thursday. without providing further details.
Nigeria’s military frequently carries out airstrikes while fighting the extremist violence and rebel attacks which have destabilized the northern region of Nigeria for more than a decade, often leaving civilian casualties in their wake.
Since 2017, around 400 civilians have been killed by accidental attacks by the military, according to Lagos-based security firm SBM Intelligence.
The December misfire occurred while residents were observing the Muslim holiday marking the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday in Tudun Biri village in Kaduna state.
Nigerian military authorities must provide more information about the investigation, compensate victims, and implement systems and processes to prevent future misfires, said Anietie Ewang, a Nigerian investigator at Human Rights Watch.
“There really needs to be a well-thought-out process to ensure accountability and justice for the victims of these airstrikes,” Ewang said.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said such “avoidable mistakes are unacceptable and cannot be repeated.” Human rights groups and activists also condemned the attack and called for greater scrutiny of military operations in conflict zones.
A major concern has been the proliferation of drones in Nigerian security agencies, such that “there is no guiding principle as to when these can be used,” Kabir Adamu, an Abuja-based security analyst, told the Associated Press.
“The military will take additional precautions in the future to ensure non-combatants are safe,” Buba said.
