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| | partof = ] | | partof = ] | ||
| | type = Accidental drone strike | | type = Accidental drone strike | ||
| | fatalities = 120+ (per Amnesty International Nigeria)<ref |
| fatalities = 120+ (per Amnesty International Nigeria)<ref name=":2" /><br>88+ (per Nigerian authorities)<ref></ref> | ||
| | perpetrator = {{flagdeco|Nigeria}} ] | | perpetrator = {{flagdeco|Nigeria}} ] | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| {{Campaignbox Nigerian bandit conflict}} | {{Campaignbox Nigerian bandit conflict}} | ||
| On 3 December 2023, a ] was carried out by the ] on Tudun Biri, ]. Targeting what they thought was a group of bandits, the army mistakenly hit a village, killing over 85 civilians. | On 3 December 2023, a ] was carried out by the ] on Tudun Biri, ]. Targeting what they thought was a group of bandits, the army mistakenly hit a village, killing over 85 civilians. | ||
| ==Background== | ==Background== | ||
| In their campaigns against ] and jihadist activity in northern Nigeria, drones have been heavily used by the Nigerian government.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-05 |title='Dole a hukunta wadanda suka hari ta sama a jihar Kaduna' |url=https://www.bbc.com/hausa/articles/c4n84mjdvyzo |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=BBC News Hausa |language=ha}}</ref> These have led to airstrikes on civilian centers with heavy casualties, including an attack in ] in January that killed 39 civilians.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-06 |title=Nigeria: No Justice for Civilians Killed in Airstrike {{!}} Human Rights Watch |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/06/06/nigeria-no-justice-civilians-killed-airstrike |access-date=2023-12-06 |language=en}}</ref> A drone strike in ] in March 2023 killed three others in Sabon Gida.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Torelli |first=Chiara |date=2023-12-06 |title=Kaduna: 85 civilians killed, 66 injured in mistaken Nigerian air strike during religious celebrations in Tudun Biri village, 3 Dec. |url=https://aoav.org.uk/2023/kaduna-85-civilians-killed-66-injured-in-mistaken-nigerian-air-strike-during-religious-celebrations-in-tudun-biri-village-3-dec/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=AOAV |language=en-US}}</ref> Survivors of the attack stated that no bandits were in Tudun Biri, and the one time there was, he was disowned.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Isenyo |first=Godwin |date=2023-12-05 |title=We thought terrorists were raining bombs – Kaduna community attack survivors |url=https://punchng.com/we-thought-terrorists-were-raining-bombs-kaduna-community-attack-survivors/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}}</ref> | In their campaigns against ] and jihadist activity in northern Nigeria, drones have been heavily used by the Nigerian government.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-05 |title='Dole a hukunta wadanda suka hari ta sama a jihar Kaduna' |url=https://www.bbc.com/hausa/articles/c4n84mjdvyzo |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=BBC News Hausa |language=ha}}</ref> These have led to airstrikes on civilian centers with heavy casualties, including an attack in ] in January that killed 39 civilians.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-06 |title=Nigeria: No Justice for Civilians Killed in Airstrike {{!}} Human Rights Watch |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/06/06/nigeria-no-justice-civilians-killed-airstrike |access-date=2023-12-06 |language=en}}</ref> A drone strike in ] in March 2023 killed three others in Sabon Gida.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Torelli |first=Chiara |date=2023-12-06 |title=Kaduna: 85 civilians killed, 66 injured in mistaken Nigerian air strike during religious celebrations in Tudun Biri village, 3 Dec. |url=https://aoav.org.uk/2023/kaduna-85-civilians-killed-66-injured-in-mistaken-nigerian-air-strike-during-religious-celebrations-in-tudun-biri-village-3-dec/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=AOAV |language=en-US}}</ref> Survivors of the attack stated that no bandits were in Tudun Biri, and the one time there was a bandit, he was disowned.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Isenyo |first=Godwin |date=2023-12-05 |title=We thought terrorists were raining bombs – Kaduna community attack survivors |url=https://punchng.com/we-thought-terrorists-were-raining-bombs-kaduna-community-attack-survivors/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}}</ref> | ||
| ==Strike== | ==Strike== | ||
| The drone strike occurred as the villagers were celebrating ], the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. A Nigerian drone flying overhead in routine counter-terrorism operations mistook the movements of the civilians for bandits, and the Nigerian Air Force called in an airstrike on the village.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Torelli |first=Chiara |date=2023-12-06 |title=Kaduna: 85 civilians killed, 66 injured in mistaken Nigerian air strike during religious celebrations in Tudun Biri village, 3 Dec. |url=https://aoav.org.uk/2023/kaduna-85-civilians-killed-66-injured-in-mistaken-nigerian-air-strike-during-religious-celebrations-in-tudun-biri-village-3-dec/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=AOAV |language=en-US}}</ref> A survivor of the attacks stated that "I was just standing when I head loud sounds of bombs."<ref name=":1" /> Immediately after the attacks, the survivors fled in every direction, sleeping in the woods that night.<ref name=":1" /> | The drone strike occurred as the villagers were celebrating ], the birth of the Prophet ]. A Nigerian drone flying overhead in routine counter-terrorism operations mistook the movements of the civilians for bandits, and the Nigerian Air Force called in an airstrike on the village.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Torelli |first=Chiara |date=2023-12-06 |title=Kaduna: 85 civilians killed, 66 injured in mistaken Nigerian air strike during religious celebrations in Tudun Biri village, 3 Dec. |url=https://aoav.org.uk/2023/kaduna-85-civilians-killed-66-injured-in-mistaken-nigerian-air-strike-during-religious-celebrations-in-tudun-biri-village-3-dec/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=AOAV |language=en-US}}</ref> A survivor of the attacks stated that "I was just standing when I head loud sounds of bombs."<ref name=":1" /> Immediately after the attacks, the survivors fled in every direction, sleeping in the woods that night.<ref name=":1" /> | ||
| The Nigerian Air Force initially denied responsibility for the attacks, but later admitted |
The Nigerian Air Force initially denied responsibility for the attacks, but later admitted 85 people were killed.<ref name=":0" /> This number was stated by Kaduna State governor ] and the Nigerian ].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Nigerian military drone attack kills 85 civilians in error |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/5/nigerian-military-drone-attack-kills-85-civilians-in-error |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=News |first=A. B. C. |title=88 dead after military drone mistakenly strikes festival in Nigeria's Kaduna State, local officials say |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/88-dead-after-military-drone-mistakenly-strikes-fesitval/story?id=105414426 |access-date=2023-12-06 |publisher=ABC News |language=en}}</ref> ]'s Nigeria office, citing locals, stated that 120 people were killed in the attack.<ref name=":2" /> Most of the dead were children.<ref name=":2" /> | ||
| ==Aftermath== | ==Aftermath== | ||
Revision as of 08:40, 8 December 2023
2023 fatal Nigerian military action| Tudun Biri drone strike | |
|---|---|
| Part of Nigerian bandit conflict | |
| Location | Tudun Biri, Kaduna State, Nigeria |
| Date | December 3, 2023 |
| Attack type | Accidental drone strike |
| Deaths | 120+ (per Amnesty International Nigeria) 88+ (per Nigerian authorities) |
| Perpetrator |  Nigerian Air Force |
On 3 December 2023, a drone strike was carried out by the Nigerian Armed Forces on Tudun Biri, Kaduna State. Targeting what they thought was a group of bandits, the army mistakenly hit a village, killing over 85 civilians.
Background
In their campaigns against bandits and jihadist activity in northern Nigeria, drones have been heavily used by the Nigerian government. These have led to airstrikes on civilian centers with heavy casualties, including an attack in Nasarawa State in January that killed 39 civilians. A drone strike in Kaduna State in March 2023 killed three others in Sabon Gida. Survivors of the attack stated that no bandits were in Tudun Biri, and the one time there was a bandit, he was disowned.
Strike
The drone strike occurred as the villagers were celebrating Mawlid, the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. A Nigerian drone flying overhead in routine counter-terrorism operations mistook the movements of the civilians for bandits, and the Nigerian Air Force called in an airstrike on the village. A survivor of the attacks stated that "I was just standing when I head loud sounds of bombs." Immediately after the attacks, the survivors fled in every direction, sleeping in the woods that night.
The Nigerian Air Force initially denied responsibility for the attacks, but later admitted 85 people were killed. This number was stated by Kaduna State governor Uba Sani and the Nigerian National Emergency Management Agency. Amnesty International's Nigeria office, citing locals, stated that 120 people were killed in the attack. Most of the dead were children.
Aftermath
Fifty bodies were buried on the first day, and the remaining bodies were buried in a mass burial on December 5.
Reactions
President Bola Tinubu expressed his condolences for the victims, and ordered an investigation into the airstrike. Nigerian Army chief of staff Taoreed Lagbaja attended the funeral and echoed Tinubu's sentiments.
References
- ^ "Nigerian military drone attack kills 85 civilians in error". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
- "'Dole a hukunta wadanda suka hari ta sama a jihar Kaduna'". BBC News Hausa (in Hausa). 2023-12-05. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
- "Nigeria: No Justice for Civilians Killed in Airstrike | Human Rights Watch". 2023-06-06. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
- ^ Torelli, Chiara (2023-12-06). "Kaduna: 85 civilians killed, 66 injured in mistaken Nigerian air strike during religious celebrations in Tudun Biri village, 3 Dec". AOAV. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
- ^ Isenyo, Godwin (2023-12-05). "We thought terrorists were raining bombs – Kaduna community attack survivors". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
- Torelli, Chiara (2023-12-06). "Kaduna: 85 civilians killed, 66 injured in mistaken Nigerian air strike during religious celebrations in Tudun Biri village, 3 Dec". AOAV. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
- News, A. B. C. "88 dead after military drone mistakenly strikes festival in Nigeria's Kaduna State, local officials say". ABC News. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help) - "Tinubu ya ce a gudanar da bincike kan harin da ya kashe masu Mauludi a Kaduna". RFI (in Hausa). 2023-12-05. Retrieved 2023-12-05.