A 14-year-old girl has been killed by a stray bullet in Maiduguri, Borno State capital.
The incident occurred on Saturday, April 4, when the secondary school student was reportedly struck while inside her family home at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) quarters.
According to Amnesty International, the fatal bullet was fired by military personnel engaging in celebratory gunfire at a nearby wedding ceremony.
But in a post on social media, a handle known for posting update on the military, blamed the incident on Civilian Joint Task Force, a vigilante outfit.
A family friend recounted the tragic circumstances surrounding the girl’s death, describing her final moments as filled with excitement and anticipation.
“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,” the source said.
The girl was buried on Sunday at the Maiduguri cemetery, as grieving family members and friends demanded accountability for what they described as a preventable loss.
Amnesty International has condemned the incident and called on Nigerian authorities to carry out a thorough investigation.
In a statement, the organisation urged the government to ensure a transparent, impartial, and effective probe into the circumstances surrounding the shooting, stressing the need to safeguard civilian lives and hold those responsible to account.
The incident has renewed concerns over the dangers of celebratory gunfire and the conduct of security personnel in civilian areas, particularly in conflict-affected regions like Borno.