Amnesty International has called for an impartial, transparent, and immediate investigation into a military airstrike that killed at least 10 people in Zakka village, Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State.
According to the organisation, the incident occurred on Sunday, February 15, 2025.
In a statement released via its official social media handle, Amnesty International Nigeria condemned the attack, stating that airstrikes leading to high numbers of civilian casualties have become a disturbing pattern of human rights violations by the Nigerian military.
The organization urged the government to take decisive action in ensuring accountability.
“Air strikes with high numbers of unlawful killings have become the latest in a long list of gross human rights violations perpetrated by the Nigerian military.
“The Nigerian authorities must give clear directives to the military to always prioritize and respect human rights.” Amnesty International Nigeria said.
The Nigerian military has yet to officially respond to the allegations.
In recent years, military airstrikes have been deployed to combat insurgents and bandits, but concerns persist regarding civilian casualties and adherence to international humanitarian laws.
This incident adds to a growing list of similar tragedies in the country. In December 2023, an airstrike in Tudun Biri, Kaduna State, mistakenly killed over 80 civilians, prompting widespread outrage and demands for accountability.
Amnesty International, have consistently criticized the Nigerian military for a lack of transparency in its operations and failure to uphold the principles of proportionality and necessity in conflict situations.
