A tragic incident has claimed the life of a 14-year-old girl in Maiduguri after she was struck by a stray bullet allegedly fired by military personnel during celebratory gunfire.
The incident, which occurred on April 4, has sparked outrage, with Amnesty International calling for an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding the teenager’s death.
According to the rights group, the victim, a secondary school student, was inside her home located within the quarters of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital when the bullet hit her.
A family source revealed that the girl had been preparing to attend a wedding ceremony at a nearby event centre before the tragic incident occurred.
“She had just finished applying henna for her mother and herself and was getting ready for the celebration when the bullet struck,” the source said.
Amnesty International described the incident as “entirely preventable,” urging Nigerian authorities to conduct a transparent and impartial investigation and ensure accountability.
The victim was buried on Sunday, leaving her family and community in grief and demanding answers over the circumstances of her death.
When contacted, military authorities said they were yet to receive full details of the incident, while the police in Borno State had not issued an official statement as of the time of reporting.
