UN Rights Chief Calls for Probe Into Nigerian and Chadian Air Strikes
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has called for independent investigations into reports that air strikes by Nigerian and Chadian forces killed more than 100 civilians in northern Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and reported by AFP and Reuters, Turk said he was “shocked” by reports that Nigerian military air strikes on a market in Zamfara State killed at least 100 civilians on 10 May.
He added that he was also “alarmed and saddened” by reports of civilian casualties from Chadian air raids targeting Boko Haram camps on remote islands around the Lake Chad region shared by Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad.
According to Amnesty International, at least 100 civilians were killed on Sunday during clashes involving the Nigerian military and armed groups in Zamfara State.
The organisation, citing witnesses, said many of those killed in the attack on Tumfa village market were women and children.
AFP also reported that dozens of Nigerian fishermen working on islands controlled by Boko Haram were killed in the bombardment.
Verified footage published by AFP showed several injured fishermen receiving treatment for severe burns at a hospital in Bosso, Niger Republic.
“It is crucial that both Nigerian and Chadian authorities conduct prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigations into these disturbing incidents,” Turk said.
He urged both militaries to ensure that operations against Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) comply fully with international humanitarian and human rights law.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian military denied reports of civilian casualties in Zamfara State.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Defence Headquarters spokesman Major-General Michael Onoja said there was “no credible, substantiated evidence” confirming civilian deaths from the operation.
Onoja stated that the air strike targeted a “confirmed high-level gathering” based on intelligence reports and claimed that several terrorists were neutralised during the operation.
