The League of Northern Democrats (LND) has expressed outrage over the numerous airstrikes by the military that have resulted in fatalities as the fight against terrorists, bandits and other non-state actors continue to rage in states across the North.
Spokesperson for the group, Dr. Ladan Salihu, in a statement released on January 14, 2025, said that these fatal incidents by the military, reflect gross negligence and lack of professionalism, while demanding accountability and a re-evaluation of the country’s counter-insurgency strategies.
The LND argued that these recurrent mistakes indicate a failure in operational intelligence and a lack of commitment to civilian protection, which is essential in military conduct.
It condemned the actions of the military and demanded an independent investigation into the various bombing incidents, a public court-martial for those found responsible, a thorough review of military strategies, and restitution for victims’ families.
The group emphasised that the protection of civilian population must be paramount in military operations, warning that the ongoing war against terrorism cannot succeed if it undermines public trust.
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While urging President Bola Tinubu and military hierarchy to take action to restore confidence in the military’s conduct, the group added that it stands in solidarity with the families of the victims and remains committed to holding the government accountable for protecting Nigerian lives.
It listed the several tragic bombings of civilians as that of an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Rann, Borno State, in 2017, which claimed the lives of 115 civilians; the drone strike at a religious gathering in Tudun Biri, Kaduna State, in December 2023, that led to the deaths of 120 people, and the bombing of Buhari Village, Yobe State, September 15, 2021 that killed 10 civilians and injured many others.
Other incidents mentioned by the group include the airstrike on a mosque that claimed 24 civilian lives at Jika da Kolo in Kaduna State, on September 27, 2024; the operation that killed at least 10 civilians in Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa, Sokoto State, on December 25, 2024, and the killing of 15 people at Tungar Kara in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State, on January 11, 2025.
