- The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has called for immediate investigations into air attacks by Nigerian and Chadian military forces.
- Over 100 civilians have been killed in the attacks, according to reports from human rights monitors.
- The attacks were conducted during counterinsurgency operations against armed groups in the Lake Chad Basin region.
- Witnesses and local officials claim that civilians were killed in the process of airstrikes targeting suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP hideouts.
- The UN has raised concerns about potential violations of international humanitarian law due to the attacks.
The United Nations has called for immediate, independent investigations into air attacks by Nigerian and Chadian military forces that resulted in the deaths of more than 100 civilians, according to reports from human rights monitors. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed being ‘shocked’ by the incidents, which occurred during counterinsurgency operations against armed groups in the Lake Chad Basin region. The attacks, allegedly carried out in densely populated areas, have raised serious concerns about potential violations of international humanitarian law.
Deadly Strikes in Counterinsurgency Ops
Nigerian and Chadian forces conducted airstrikes targeting suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) hideouts, but witnesses and local officials say civilians were killed in the process. In one incident in northeastern Nigeria’s Borno State, a market area was hit on May 12, killing at least 85 people, according to the rights group Amnesty International. In Chad, an April 29 bombing near the town of Ngouboua reportedly killed 27 civilians, including women and children. A UN spokesperson cited preliminary findings indicating that ‘many of those killed were not combatants,’ raising alarms over indiscriminate use of force. Reuters confirmed the UN’s call for transparency.
International and Local Outcry
Human rights organizations and regional advocates have condemned the attacks, urging both governments to allow unfettered access to investigators. The Nigerian military has acknowledged carrying out the strike but claims it targeted ‘terrorist elements’ and is reviewing possible collateral damage. Chadian authorities have remained largely silent, though a government-affiliated security council source told BBC News that operations are ‘lawful and necessary’ to combat extremism. Survivors in affected villages described scenes of panic and devastation, with local leaders demanding accountability.
Where This Stands Now
As of mid-May 2024, no formal investigations have been launched by either government, despite the UN’s urgent appeals. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is compiling evidence for a potential report to the UN Human Rights Council. Diplomatic sources suggest increased pressure may come from African Union and ECOWAS bodies. With regional stability still fragile, the outcome of these incidents could influence international military support and humanitarian aid to the Sahel region.
Source: Al Jazeera