The United Nations (UN) has condemned rising civilian casualties linked to military airstrikes in Nigeria and called for urgent independent investigations into the incidents.
Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, has criticized the mounting civilian casualties caused by military airstrikes in Nigeria and called for immediate independent investigations into the occurrences.
In a statement made in Geneva on Wednesday, Türk voiced anger at reports that Nigerian military airstrikes struck a market in Zamfara State on May 10, killing at least 100 civilians and injuring many more.
The UN human rights head expressed alarm about separate claims that scores of fishermen were killed by Chadian military airstrikes in northwestern Nigeria.
“I am shocked by reports that Nigerian army airstrikes on a market in the northeastern Zamfara State killed at least 100 civilians on 10 May and injured many more.
“I am also alarmed and saddened by reports that dozens of fishermen were killed in recent Chadian military airstrikes in northwestern Nigeria,” he said.
The announcement comes amid increased international concern about civilian losses during military operations against armed groups and rebels in northern Nigeria.
Türk asked Nigerian and Chadian authorities to conduct swift, thorough, independent, and impartial investigations into the incidents and ensure accountability where violations are discovered.
“It is crucial that both Nigerian and Chadian authorities conduct prompt, thorough, independent, and impartial investigations into these disturbing incidents and ensure that those responsible for any violations are held to account, in accordance with international standards,” he stated.
The UN official also urged both militaries to rigorously adhere to international humanitarian and human rights rules during counter-terrorism operations.
“I urgently call on both militaries to take all feasible precautions to avoid harm to civilians.
“Their military operations, including against Boko Haram and the so-called Islamic State West Africa Province, must be conducted in full compliance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Civilians and civilian objects must never be the target of attack,” Turk said.
The development comes after several reports of civilian deaths caused by military shelling in various locations of Nigeria.
Amnesty International recently urged an investigation into alleged civilian casualties as a result of military attacks in Niger’s Shiroro Local Government Area.
Residents, according to the group, said that civilians, including children, were killed when aerial bombardments hit settlements surrounding Kusasu and other villages during military operations against bandits.
