PROFILE: Over 500 civilians killed in military miscalculated air strikes across Northern Nigeria in 10 years

By solacebase.com On Dec 9, 2023

Tudun Biri, Kaduna, victims, compensation , Families, Labour Party — Bodies of the victims of Tudun Biri attack

By Elijah Akoji

Over the last decade, there have been repeated occurrences of civilians becoming collateral damage as Nigeria’s security forces (Army and Airforce) try to track down armed groups, especially in the North.

SOLACEBASE in this report, captured the different miscalculated killings ravaged on Nigerian communities.

Nigerian security forces have repeatedly killed and wounded civilians and bombed settlements and camps in air attacks targeting armed groups.

Military air raids in conflict areas across northern Nigeria often cause civilian fatalities as security forces have bombed, homes and camps of people running for safety and IDP residents already displaced by violence, with civilians killed and wounded more in attacks against “terror groups”.

For years, these armed groups have made Nigeria’s largely ungoverned forests in the north their operational base, from where they launch attacks and keep kidnapped victims hostage.

Since February 2014 when a Nigerian military aircraft dropped a bomb on Daglun, a village in northeastern Nigeria’s Borno, killing 20 civilians, there have been at least over 14 documented incidences of the air force bombing residential villages and innocent civilians running from their tormentors to becoming victims of military air strike.

Tracking Miscalculated Air Strike Recurrences

In February 2014, 20 civilians were killed in a miscalculated air strike by the Nigerian military in Kayamla village of Borno State. Similarly, in the same year, in March, 10 persons were also killed in a similar air strike leaving families in mourning for their loved ones.

The Nigerian military in January 2017, also in a claimed miscalculated air strike, killed a total of 58 persons in Rann village of Borno State, while in Tangaram village of Borno state, 6 persons were killed and 17 injured in a similar attack in February 2019.

While the miscalculated killings continue, in April 2019, the Nigerian military killed 17 persons in Sakotoku village of Borno State, and in the same month, 6 persons were killed in Kurebe community in the same state.

The year 2021 was another year faced with repeated miscalculated air strikes. In June 2021, 2 persons were killed in a failed air strike that hit Genu village while in April 2021, 10 persons were killed and 20 injured in Malnok village of Borno State.

It was a double attack and tragedy in September 2021. On the 16th, 12 civilians were killed and 20 injured in Buhar village of Borno State, sadly, in the same month, 20 civilians were killed in Kwantar Daban Masara of Borno State, all in a failed air strike.

In February 2022, 7 civilians were killed and 5 injured still in the miscalculated air strike by the Nigerian Military in Nachade village of Borno State, unfortunately, in the same year in July 2022, 12 persons were injured while one death was recorded in an air strike that hit Kakuna village in Borno State.

In August 2022, Kurebe Shiroro village of Niger state was placed in mourning as the community was hit by a miscalculated air strike which killed 8 persons.

The year 2023 appears the worst year, with over five air strikes killing over 150 civilians in a miscalculated attack by the Nigerian Military.

On January 24, 18 civilians were killed in an air raid in the Niger community, in less than 24 hours, another air strike killed 40 civilians in Nassarawa state. In March, 3 persons were killed in a similar air strike in Kaduna state while in August, 1 person was killed in a miscalculated air strike.

As the year 2023 draws to a close, and families are counting in appreciation to God for the lives of their loved ones spared throughout the year, a miscalculated air strike struck Tudun Biri Village of Kaduna State, hit by a devasting air strike killing over 90 people mostly children gathered a Maulud ground to celebrate.

The North-west zonal spokesperson of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Halima Suleiman, told Channels Television that 85 people were buried on Monday by locals following the attack.

Meanwhile, in all these miscalculated killings of civilians by the military, there has never been a known case of punishment against those involved or any compensation to families of victims of the attacks.