Nigerian Military Drone Mistakenly Kills 85 Civilians : Analysis

A Nigerian military drone strike intended for rebels ended up killing at least 85 civilians who had gathered for a religious celebration, according to authorities. The incident took place in Tudun Biri village in the Igabi council area of Kaduna state on Sunday night. Muslims were observing a holiday commemorating the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad at the time of the attack. The Governor of Kaduna, Uba Sani, acknowledged that civilians were “mistakenly killed and many others were wounded” in the operation aimed at terrorists and bandits.

The National Emergency Management Agency confirmed that 85 bodies have been buried so far, with the search ongoing. However, Amnesty International’s Nigeria office believes 120 people were killed, based on reports from its workers and volunteers in the area. The director of Amnesty International in Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, stated that many of the victims were children and more bodies are being discovered.

Mustapha Rufai, a resident of Igabi, noted that at least 50 bodies have been recovered and recounted that officials claimed they mistakenly bombed the civilians. This incident adds to a series of accidental bombings on residential areas in Nigeria’s troubled regions, with at least 14 documented cases between February 2014 and September 2022.

Rebel attacks have been devastating parts of Nigeria’s northwest and central regions. The country’s forces frequently target the hideouts of armed groups through aerial bombardment but occasionally end up bombing villagers. These groups, referred to as bandits, have engaged in village raids, attacked a fighter jet and a train, and kidnapped individuals, including children, for ransom.

The latest drone bombing has sparked outrage among citizens, reminiscent of the ongoing allegations of human rights abuses by Nigerian security forces. The United States and other Western allies have expressed concerns over these allegations. The head of the Nigerian army division responsible for operations in Kaduna confirmed that the drone operation was part of routine missions, but unintentionally affected members of the community.

Search and rescue efforts are still ongoing, as numerous wounded victims have been evacuated to the hospital for treatment, according to the Kaduna Security Commissioner Samuel Aruwan. The Nigerian air force denied carrying out any operations in Kaduna on Sunday, although they clarified that they are not the only ones using combat armed drones in the region. The Nigerian army spokesperson did not respond to immediate requests for comment.

Local media reported that villagers fled the area, fearing further drone attacks. Activists claim that past incidents of a similar nature were not properly investigated, leaving victims and survivors without adequate compensation or justice. Governor Uba Sani stated that officials have been sent to the village to meet with the families of the victims, and an investigation is underway to prevent a repeat of this tragedy and prioritize the protection of the people in the fight against terrorists, bandits, and other criminal elements.

Source: Aljazeera news: Nigerian military drone attack kills 85 civilians in error