This tragic incident, which reportedly occurred during operations targeting insurgents, adds to a disturbing pattern of civilian harm in counterterrorism operations, including previous accidental airstrikes in some conflict-affected communities. He said: “We find it disturbing that evidence from similar cases shows recurring structural gaps such as weak intelligence verification, lack of precision targeting capacity, and pressure for rapid results. “We call for a comprehensive civilian protection policy across all armed forces and adequate civilian oversight. “Counterterrorism operations that repeatedly result in civilian casualties are counterproductive and unsustainable. “We further call on the Nigerian government to urgently reform its operational, training, and accountability frameworks to ensure that such tragic incidents do not become a normalised feature of military operations.”

Source: Nigerian Tribune April 12, 2026 22:36 UTC