Amnesty International condemned the Nigerian military for using illegal air raids and reckless unlawful forces to kill innocent and harmless Nigerians.
Amnesty International, a global human rights organization, has condemned the Nigerian military’s killing of no fewer than 10 people in two communities in Sokoto state with air bombing said to have been targeted at Lakurawa terrorist group.
Amnesty International condemned the Nigerian military for using illegal air raids and reckless unlawful forces to kill innocent and harmless Nigerians.
SaharaReporters on December 25 reported that a Nigerian military fighter jet targeted at Lakurawa terrorists group reportedly killed several villagers and injured many others in two communities in the Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The affected communities, Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa, were struck around 7 a.m. on Wednesday, according to reports.
Reacting to the incident, the Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, said, "Launching air raids is not a legitimate law enforcement method by any standard.
“Such reckless use of deadly force is unlawful, outrageous and lays bare the Nigerian military’s shocking disregard for the lives of those it supposedly exists to protect.
"The Christmas Day air strikes on the two communities of Silame LGA of Sokoto state are unlawful and excessive force on a catastrophic scale.
“They are yet another tragic example where Nigeria’s armed forces are found applying deadly military tactics to law enforcement situations.”
Describing the strikes as catastrophic, Amnesty further revealed, "Entire families were killed inside their homes. Some villagers were burnt to death in an inferno triggered by the air strikes.
“International humanitarian law demands that all feasible precautions must be taken to minimize harm to civilians.”
"The Nigerian authorities must urgently investigate the decision-making process and execution of the air strikes that caused the civilian casualties in Sokoto state," it said.