The United Nations has issued a strong demand for independent and impartial investigations following reports that air attacks by Nigerian and Chadian military forces resulted in the deaths of more than 100 civilians. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk expressed deep shock on Wednesday over the high civilian toll in northern Nigeria and the Lake Chad region. According to reports from Reuters and AFP, these separate military operations have targeted areas where large numbers of non-combatants were present, leading to widespread international condemnation.
The most severe incident reportedly occurred on May 10, when a Nigerian military airstrike hit a crowded market in the Tumfa village of Zamfara state. Commissioner Turk stated that at least 100 civilians were killed in this single strike, with many more sustaining life-threatening injuries. Amnesty International supported these claims, citing witnesses who described the victims as primarily women and children. The human rights organization has urged Nigerian authorities to immediately address the fallout from what is being called one of the bloodiest days in the region`s ongoing internal conflict.
Simultaneously, Chadian jets have been conducting raids since last Friday against Boko Haram strongholds located on remote islands in the vast marshlands shared by Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad. While these attacks aimed to neutralize insurgent camps, reports suggest that dozens of Nigerian fishermen were among the casualties. Civilians in these areas are often forced to live under militant control and pay taxes to groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Footage verified by news agencies showed survivors with severe burns being treated at a medical facility in Bosso, Niger.
In response to the mounting allegations, the Nigerian military has denied any evidence of civilian casualties in the Zamfara strikes. Defense headquarters spokesman Major-General Michael Onoja issued a statement on Wednesday calling the reported death tolls unverified and misleading. He maintained that the operation was conducted under the principles of international humanitarian law and successfully targeted a confirmed gathering of high-level terrorists. According to the military, the strike resulted in the neutralization of several armed insurgents rather than civilians.
The conflict in northern Nigeria has persisted for 17 years, as the government battles both a religious insurgency and organized banditry. The UN rights chief emphasized that while military operations against groups like Boko Haram are necessary, they must be conducted in full compliance with international human rights law. Turk stressed that civilians and civilian objects must never be the target of an attack. The UN now awaits a prompt response from both the Nigerian and Chadian governments regarding the establishment of a transparent inquiry to ensure accountability for the loss of civilian life.
