“Amnesty International Demands Accountability for Deadly Military Gunfire in Maiduguri Tragedy”

Amnesty International has urged Nigerian officials to promptly examine what it termed the reckless utilization of firearms by military forces that resulted in the death of a 14-year-old girl in Maiduguri, Borno State.

The event transpired on Saturday, April 4, when the secondary school pupil was hit by a stray bullet while inside her residence.

Reports suggest that the bullet was discharged by military personnel who were reportedly firing into the sky during a wedding festivity at a nearby event center.

In a post on its official X account on Sunday, Amnesty International stated that the death was preventable and should not be overlooked without accountability.

“The Nigerian officials must scrutinize the reckless discharge of firearms by the military that resulted in the death of a girl in Maiduguri, Borno State,” the organization remarked.

A family acquaintance of the victim detailed that the teenager was nowhere near the celebration when the incident occurred.

“She resided in the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) quarters with her family and was inside her home when the incident took place,” the source mentioned. “She had just completed applying henna for her mother and herself, happily preparing for a family wedding planned for that same day.”

The girl was subsequently interred on Sunday morning at the Maiduguri cemetery, while family members and friends grappled with the abrupt loss.

Amnesty International emphasized that occurrences like this highlight the perils of unlawful or negligent use of firearms, particularly in civilian zones.

The organization called for a transparent, unbiased, and effective investigation into the shooting, asserting that those found culpable must be held accountable.