Prominent human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has given the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum to compensate victims of military airstrikes spanning the past seven years or face legal repercussions.
Falana stated that failure to meet this demand would result in legal action before a Federal High Court.
Recent reports reveal that over 300 civilians, including children and women, have lost their lives in accidental bombings conducted by the Nigerian military in recent years. The gravity of the situation was underscored by an erroneous drone bombing in Tudun Biri, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, last week, which resulted in the tragic death of at least 120 innocent residents celebrating an Islamic festival.
In response to the outcry following this incident, all 109 senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria have donated their December salaries to support the victims of the bombing.
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The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, made this announcement during a high-power delegation’s visit to the Kaduna State Government House.
Expressing his concern, Falana, who chairs the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), highlighted the lack of justice for victims of these bombings over the years. He pointed out that despite the establishment of a commission after the Rann bombing in January 2017, tasked with reviewing rules of engagement in the armed forces and ensuring compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law, the government has not published the report nor implemented the commission’s recommendations.