Following the tragic airstrike that resulted in the loss of at least 85 lives and numerous injuries in Tudun Biri village, Kaduna state, on Sunday, the United Nations is calling for a reassessment of the military’s rules of engagement.
The drone strike, intended to target bandits, occurred during the celebration of the Maulud festival by the residents. Seif Magango, the UN human rights Public Information Officer, expressed disapproval of the attack, highlighting that it marks at least the fourth such airstrike causing significant civilian casualties since 2017.
While acknowledging the authorities’ characterization of civilian deaths as accidental, Magango emphasized the need for future actions to safeguard civilians and civilian infrastructure.
In a statement, he stated, “While we note that the authorities have termed the civilian deaths as accidental, we call on them to take all feasible steps in future to ensure civilians and civilian infrastructure are protected,” said Magango in a statement.
“They must review rules of engagement and standard operating procedures to ensure that such incidents do not happen again.”
In response to the disturbing incident, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered an investigation on Tuesday, prompted by the army’s acknowledgment that one of its drones mistakenly targeted the village. The military explained that the drone strike was launched during aerial patrols after troops misinterpreted the pattern of activities of a group of people, wrongly associating them with bandits.
Expressing serious concerns about the analysis and interpretation of the “pattern of activities,” Magango questioned whether such “pattern of life” strikes align with international law.
Given the military’s reliance on airstrikes in the battle against bandit militias in the northwest and northeast, where jihadists have been active for over a decade, Magango urged Nigerian authorities to conduct thorough and impartial investigations into alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.
“We are particularly alarmed by reports that the strike was based on the ‘pattern of activities’ of those at the scene, which was wrongly analysed and misinterpreted,” said Magango.
“There are serious concerns as to whether so-called ‘pattern of life’ strikes sufficiently complies with international law.”
“We urge the Nigerian authorities to thoroughly and impartially investigate all alleged violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law, including deaths and injuries from air force strikes, and hold those found responsible to account,” said Magango.
“The government should also provide victims of any unlawful strikes and their families with adequate reparations.”