UN Demands Investigation into Civilian Deaths in Nigeria

The United Nations, through its Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq, has urged Nigerian and Chadian authorities to investigate deadly military airstrikes that reportedly resulted in civilian deaths in northern Nigeria. This appeal was made during a news conference in New York on Wednesday.

Haq, alongside UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk, expressed alarm over reports indicating that Nigerian airstrikes on a market in Zamfara on May 10 allegedly killed at least 100 civilians. Additionally, a Chadian military strike reportedly killed dozens of fishermen in northwestern Nigeria, raising further humanitarian concerns.

Haq emphasized the need for a prompt, independent, and impartial investigation into these incidents and called for accountability for military conduct and adherence to precautions to protect civilians. In response, Nigeria's Defence Headquarters rejected the reports of civilian casualties, stating that recent joint operations in Zamfara, led by Maj Gen Michael Onoja, targeted terrorist leaders in Tumfa village, Shinkafi Local Government Area, and that casualty figures remain speculative and unverifiable.