A 14-year-old girl lost her life after being struck by a stray bullet, reportedly from celebratory gunfire by military personnel at a wedding in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The incident happened on Saturday, April 4, while the teenager, a secondary school student, was at home in the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) quarters. A family friend said she had been getting ready to attend the wedding and had just finished applying henna for herself and her mother.
“She was joyfully preparing for a family wedding scheduled for that day,” the friend said, recalling the tragic circumstances.
ALSO READ: Otedola lauds Tinubu’s dedication, says he worked on Easter Sunday
Amnesty International condemned the incident, calling it a preventable death and urging authorities to hold those responsible accountable. In a statement issued on Sunday, the rights group called for a “transparent, impartial and effective investigation” into the circumstances surrounding the teenager’s death.
The organisation also warned against the continued reckless use of firearms in civilian areas, stressing the dangers such behaviour poses. The victim was buried on Sunday at a Maiduguri graveyard, leaving her family and friends seeking answers.
Amnesty International emphasised that protecting civilian lives must be a priority and that steps should be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.