Human rights organisation Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to investigate the killing of a 14-year-old girl in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The teenager was reportedly killed on Saturday, April 4, after being struck by a stray bullet while inside her home in the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) quarters.
According to information cited by the organisation, the bullet was allegedly fired during celebratory gunfire at a wedding ceremony held at a nearby event centre. The shooters were described as military personnel, although this has not been independently confirmed.
A family friend of the victim described the moments leading up to the incident, saying:
“She lived in the UMTH quarters with her family and was inside her home when the tragedy occurred. She had just finished applying henna for her mother and herself, joyfully preparing for a family wedding scheduled for that same day.”
Reports indicate that the girl was buried on Sunday in Maiduguri, though details of the burial have not been independently verified.
In a statement posted on X, Amnesty International said:
“The Nigerian authorities must investigate the reckless use of firearms by the military… Amnesty International calls for a transparent, impartial and effective investigation of the incident to safeguard lives and ensure justice.”
The organisation urged authorities to ensure accountability and take steps to prevent similar incidents.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the military authorities regarding the incident.