UN human rights office has urged authorities in Nigeria to investigate a string of deadly airstrikes over the past six years and hold those responsible to account.
The OHCHR issued a statement deploring the latest strike – the fourth since 2017 – which took place in Kaduna state in the north on Tuesday and left at least 80 civilians dead and more than 60 injured.
“While the UN 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 consistently with Nigeria’s international law obligations,” said Spokesperson Seif Magango.
The OHCHR urged the Nigerian authorities to review rules of engagement and standard operating procedures to ensure that such incidents do not occur again.
The human rights office was “particularly alarmed by reports that the strike was based on the ‘pattern of activities’ of those at the scene which was wrongly analyzed and misinterpreted,” he said, adding “there are serious concerns as to whether so-called ‘pattern of life’ strikes sufficiently comply with international law.”
The statement called for the Nigerian authorities to investigate all alleged violations of international law including deaths and injuries from airstrikes.
Those responsible must be held to account, while victims and their families should receive “adequate compensation.