Stray bullet from Nigerian soldiers’ celebratory gunfire kills 14-year-old girl in Maiduguri

‎A 14-year-old girl has been killed by a stray bullet allegedly fired by military personnel during celebratory gunfire at a wedding in Maiduguri, Borno State.

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‎Reacting to the incident, Amnesty International called on Nigerian authorities to investigate what it described as the reckless use of firearms that led to the teenager’s death.

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‎According to a statement issued on Sunday, the organisation disclosed that the secondary school student was struck by the bullet on Saturday, April 4, while inside her home.

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‎Amnesty International said the shot was reportedly fired by soldiers who were celebrating at a nearby event centre.

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‎A family friend of the victim said the girl had been preparing to attend the same wedding before the tragic incident.

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‎“She lived in the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) quarters with her family and was inside her home when the tragedy occurred,” the source said.

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‎“She had just finished applying henna for her mother and herself, joyfully preparing for a family wedding scheduled for that same day.”

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‎The human rights group described the killing as preventable and urged authorities to ensure accountability.

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‎The statement further disclosed that the victim was buried on Sunday at the Maiduguri graveyard, adding that her family and friends are “left seeking answers for a death that was entirely preventable.”

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‎Amnesty International called for a “transparent, impartial and effective investigation” into the incident, stressing the need to safeguard lives and prevent a recurrence.

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‎The organisation warned that the continued misuse of firearms in civilian areas poses serious risks and must be addressed through strict enforcement and accountability.

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‎In Nigeria, many citizens have been victims of stray bullets fired by security operatives, with many of the incidents rarely investigated and the culprits hardly punished by the authorities.

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