Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to launch an urgent and independent investigation into the death of a 14-year-old girl who was reportedly killed by a stray bullet in Maiduguri, Borno State.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the rights group said the secondary school student was struck inside her home on Saturday, April 4, allegedly by a bullet fired by military personnel engaged in celebratory gunfire at a nearby wedding event centre.
According to Amnesty International, the teenager was in her family residence located within the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) quarters when the incident occurred.
A family friend quoted by the organisation said the young girl had been preparing to attend a wedding ceremony scheduled for later that day.
“She lived in the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital quarters with her family and was inside her home when the tragedy occurred,” the source said. “She had just finished applying henna for her mother and herself, joyfully preparing for a family wedding scheduled for that same day.”
Amnesty International described the incident as entirely preventable and urged the authorities to ensure accountability.
“The family and friends are left seeking answers for a death that was entirely preventable,” the organisation said, adding that the victim was buried on Sunday at the Maiduguri graveyard.
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The group called for a “transparent, impartial and effective investigation” into the circumstances surrounding the shooting, stressing the need to safeguard civilian lives and deliver justice to the bereaved family.
When contacted, Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, told TheCable that he was yet to receive details about the incident and could not comment.
“I don’t have any details of it yet. Can’t comment yet,” Onoja said.
Efforts to reach Nahum Daso, spokesperson of the Borno State Police Command, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages to his phone were not responded to at the time of filing this report.
The incident has sparked renewed concerns over the dangers of celebratory gunfire and the broader implications for civilian safety in conflict-affected regions.
Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to launch an urgent and independent investigation into the death of a 14-year-old girl who was reportedly killed by a stray bullet in Maiduguri, Borno State.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the rights group said the secondary school student was struck inside her home on Saturday, April 4, allegedly by a bullet fired by military personnel engaged in celebratory gunfire at a nearby wedding event centre.
According to Amnesty International, the teenager was in her family residence located within the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) quarters when the incident occurred.
A family friend quoted by the organisation said the young girl had been preparing to attend a wedding ceremony scheduled for later that day.
“She lived in the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital quarters with her family and was inside her home when the tragedy occurred,” the source said. “She had just finished applying henna for her mother and herself, joyfully preparing for a family wedding scheduled for that same day.”
Amnesty International described the incident as entirely preventable and urged the authorities to ensure accountability.
“The family and friends are left seeking answers for a death that was entirely preventable,” the organisation said, adding that the victim was buried on Sunday at the Maiduguri graveyard.
The group called for a “transparent, impartial and effective investigation” into the circumstances surrounding the shooting, stressing the need to safeguard civilian lives and deliver justice to the bereaved family.
When contacted, Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, told TheCable that he was yet to receive details about the incident and could not comment.
“I don’t have any details of it yet. Can’t comment yet,” Onoja said.
Efforts to reach Nahum Daso, spokesperson of the Borno State Police Command, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages to his phone were not responded to at the time of filing this report.
The incident has sparked renewed concerns over the dangers of celebratory gunfire and the broader implications for civilian safety in conflict-affected regions.