Kaduna drone mishap: CAPPA calls for speedy, thorough probe

Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has called for a speedy and thorough investigation of the airstrike by the Nigerian military targeting terrorists in Kaduna State, which has left at least 80 civilians dead and more than 60 injured, mostly women and children.

In a statement on Monday, Akinbode Oluwafemi, the Executive Director, CAPPA, while sympathizing with victims of the strike, regretted the unfortunate incident which he labelled a ‘‘reoccurring intelligence failure’’ that has jeopardized innocent lives. He called for a comprehensive probe of the incident and compensation for victims.

According to reports, the military drone was on a routine counterterrorism operation when it erroneously bombed civilians and residents in the Tundun Biri village of Kaduna State, who had gathered to celebrate the Muslim festival of Maulud.

The statement said, ‘We are deeply saddened about the horrendous and needless deaths of innocent Nigerians. Once again, we are confronted with the question of when these deaths will stop. Too frequently, we have seen innocent civilians fall victim to military strikes which authorities are often quick to describe as “accidental”.

It added, according to news and research reports, “Since 2017, more than 300 people have been killed in airstrikes carried out by the Nigerian Air Force in pursuit of terrorists. Within the last two years, the instances of such’mistakes’ have soared, but sadly with limited acknowledgment from the Air Force.

“While the promises from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Lieutenant-General Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, to institute a full-fledged investigation, and the recent monetary donations by the Nigerian Senate to the victims are steps in the right direction, they are unfortunately insufficient.  These responses, while necessary, do not address the root cause of such tragedies which have become a routine with military interventions,’’ said Gideon Adeyeni, CAPPA’s Programme Officer

‘‘Firstly, this investigation must extend beyond this singular event to include similar incidents since the inception of counterinsurgency in Northern Nigeria. We demand the constitution of an independent panel with representatives from affected communities and civil society to ensure a broad spectrum of perspectives and objectivity in evaluation. We equally demand that the findings of the investigation be made available to the public.’’

‘‘Secondly, we ask that the government actively engages with affected communities to facilitate healing and build lasting peace, both in impacted communities and across the country. Financial aid, necessary as it is, cannot replace the precious lives lost or erase the scars of trauma. The Nigerian State must also recognize the irreparable nature of these losses and provide additional interventions, such as psychosocial services to bolster the mental health of victims.’’

The statement by CAPPA Media and Communication Officer, Robert Egbe concluded ‘‘Beyond immediate actions, we urge the Nigerian government and military authorities to consider a radical shift in how security operations are conducted in the country, particularly in areas with high civilian populations. Nigeria, as a signatory to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights is bound both by legal and moral obligations to ensure the right to life and the observance of all necessary precautions and intelligence in its military engagements.’’

‘‘Finally, this tragedy must serve as a catalyst for legislative and institutional reforms to prevent similar incidents. It’s not enough to react post-tragedy; proactive measures are essential to safeguard lives. The Nigerian government must adopt a holistic approach that includes administrative, institutional, and accountability measures.’’