The United Nations human rights chief has called for independent investigations into separate air attacks carried out by Nigerian and Chadian forces in northern Nigeria that reportedly killed more than 100 civilians.
Volker Turk said on Wednesday that he was “shocked” by reports alleging that a Nigerian military airstrike on a market in Zamfara State killed at least 100 civilians on May 10, leaving many others injured.
Turk also expressed concern over reports of civilian deaths linked to Chadian air raids targeting Boko Haram camps in the Lake Chad region. The attacks reportedly occurred on remote islands shared by Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad.
According to rights group Amnesty International, at least 100 civilians were killed on Sunday during clashes involving the Nigerian military and armed groups commonly referred to as “bandits” in Zamfara State. Witnesses cited by Amnesty said many of the victims were women and children at a crowded market in Tumfa village.
The Nigerian military has for years been engaged in counterterrorism operations against armed gangs in the northwest and insurgent groups in the northeast, including Boko Haram and the ISIL-linked Islamic State West Africa Province.
Reports also indicated that dozens of Nigerian fishermen working on islands controlled by Boko Haram were killed during the bombardment. Video footage verified by AFP reportedly showed severely burned victims receiving treatment at a hospital in Bosso, Niger.
Turk stressed the importance of accountability and civilian protection during military operations.
“It is crucial that both Nigerian and Chadian authorities conduct prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigations into these disturbing incidents,” he said. He also urged both militaries to take all possible precautions to avoid civilian casualties and comply fully with international humanitarian and human rights laws.
However, the Nigerian military has denied claims of civilian deaths in the Zamfara operation. Defence Headquarters spokesman Michael Onoja said there was no verified evidence confirming civilian casualties.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Onoja described reports of mass civilian deaths as “unverified and misleading.” He maintained that the airstrike targeted a “confirmed high-level gathering” of terrorists based on intelligence assessments and was conducted in accordance with international humanitarian law.
