The Nigerian army and Amnesty International had a media face-off on Tuesday over the military’s accidental bombings in Sokoto during an operation that was aimed at clearing terrorists from their strongholds, which affected some villagers and resulted to deaths.
Amnesty International called for an independent investigation into the military’s actions, stating that troops should be held accountable for the deaths of civilians. In response, the military accused the organization of ignoring invitations to substantiate its claims.
Reports indicate that at least 10 villagers were killed during a December 25 military operation targeting terrorists in the Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa communities of Silame Local Government Area in Sokoto State.
Amnesty International, however, alleged that this incident is part of a broader pattern, claiming that 436 civilians have died in accidental military strikes across the country over the last eight years.
Speaking to journalists, Amnesty International’s Country Director, Isa Sanusi, urged the military to provide records and details of the Christmas Day airstrike to the Attorney-General of the Federation for an independent probe.
“Amnesty International condemns what appears to be the desperate attempt by the Nigerian military to cover up the horrific airstrike that killed at least 10 people and injured dozens in Sokoto State on Christmas Day,” Sanusi stated.
In response, during a press briefing at Defence Headquarters in Abuja, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, said the military would cooperate with Amnesty International only if the organization honors earlier invitations to discuss its allegations.
“We invited Amnesty International to address some of the shocking and misleading claims they made against the military. We are still waiting for them to respond. Now that they’ve made a new request, we will wait for them to honor our invitation before addressing their concerns. The ball is in their court,” Buba said.
He also urged Nigerians not to fall for terrorist propaganda concerning the incident and assured citizens that the military’s victory against adversaries is on course.
“Don’t be swayed by terrorist propaganda. Following the bombing in the northwest on Christmas Day, you’ll hear all sorts of narratives. The terrorists will naturally try to twist the story. Please don’t fall for their propaganda,” he emphasized.
Buba concluded by reaffirming the military’s commitment to eliminating terrorism and securing lasting peace in Nigeria.
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