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Nigeria’s military has confirmed that two officers will face court martial proceedings due to a drone strike that tragically killed at least 85 civilians.
The Defense Headquarters announced the decision on Thursday, following an inquiry that President Bola Tinubu initiated over four months ago. The strike on December 3 was among the most deadly incidents involving civilians, occurring amid Nigeria’s heightened use of aerial attacks against various insurgencies.
Major General Edward Buba, spokesperson for the Defense Headquarters, revealed that an in-depth investigation into the attack on a village in northern Kaduna state concluded the action was a grave mistake. “The military has conducted a painstaking investigation into the incident and has initiated disciplinary action against those culpable,” Buba stated, confirming the upcoming court martial for the officers involved. He also expressed regret over the misidentification of a religious gathering of villagers as a meeting of armed criminals, for which the military has since apologized.
This incident is part of a pattern of aerial strikes that have resulted in civilian casualties. Last month, another strike targeted a village in the northwestern Zamfara state, claiming the lives of 33+ people. According to the government, this military operation was attempting to target a kidnapping gang operating in hideouts.
