A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) has revealed that at least 21 military airstrikes labelled as ‘erroneous’ have resulted in the deaths of over 470 civilians across Nigeria since February 2014.
Operating under the Community of Practice Against Mass Atrocities and Nigeria Mourns, the groups condemned the recurring loss of civilian lives, describing it as a reflection of negligence and disregard for human rights by the Nigerian military.
The group disclosed that at least 21 such incidents have occurred in indigenous communities and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, with the latest tragedy unfolding in Tungar Kara, Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State, on January 11, 2025.
The airstrike reportedly killed at least 20 people and destroyed significant parts of the community.
In a statement signed by organisations including Global Rights and the Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), the CSOs described the killings as ‘avoidable’ and ‘horrifying.’
They condemned the Nigerian Air Force’s repeated justification of these incidents as ‘collateral damage’ in the fight against terrorism, emphasising that such explanations reflect negligence and disregard for human lives.
The group noted that this recent incident occurred less than three weeks after a similar airstrike in Sokoto State’s Gidan Bisa and Rumtuwa communities, where at least 10 civilians were killed.
They also referenced the December 2023 Tundun Biri airstrike in Kaduna State, which forced a rare admission of responsibility from the military but failed to result in accountability or reparative actions.
“These events are a strong reminder of the human cost of negligence and the urgent need for accountability.
“The military’s decade-long track record of at least 22 erroneous airstrikes highlights a disturbing pattern of impunity, with promises of investigations rarely leading to actionable outcomes”, the group said.
The CSOs expressed concern that even when responsibility is admitted, there is often no plan to prevent future tragedies, nor are victims and their families adequately compensated or rehabilitated.
To prevent further loss of innocent lives, the group called for an independent and transparent investigation into the Tungar Kara bombing and other similar incidents.
They emphasised that such investigations must be comprehensive, with findings made public to restore trust and demonstrate the government’s commitment to justice.
The coalition also urged the Nigerian Air Force to reform its operational protocols. They stressed the need for improved intelligence gathering, better precision in targeting, and the retraining of bomber pilots to minimise the risk of civilian casualties during military operations.
The group highlighted the importance of compensating and rehabilitating victims and their families.
They tasked the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) with ensuring that affected individuals receive equitable compensation and adequate support to help them recover from the profound losses and devastation caused by these tragic incidents.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) announced the establishment of an investigative panel to probe the Tungar Kara incident and determine whether innocent civilians were mistakenly targeted during airstrikes aimed at bandit strongholds.
The CSOs, however, remain skeptical, urging that the investigation must be transparent and result in actionable outcomes to restore public confidence and ensure justice for affected communities.
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