Outrage as Stray Bullet Kills 14-Year-Old Girl in Maiduguri

By Staff Reporter Authorities have been urged to launch a full investigation into the alleged reckless use of firearms by milita...

By Staff Reporter

Authorities have been urged to launch a full investigation into the alleged reckless use of firearms by military personnel following the death of a 14-year-old girl in Maiduguri.

The victim, a secondary school student, was reportedly killed on Saturday, March 4, after being struck by a stray bullet while inside her family home. The incident occurred in the vicinity of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) quarters, where she lived with her family.

According to information released by Amnesty International Nigeria, the fatal shot was allegedly fired by military personnel who were engaged in celebratory gunfire during a wedding ceremony at a nearby event centre.

A family friend, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the circumstances leading up to the tragedy. She said the teenager had been indoors, preparing for a family wedding.

“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 morning at a cemetery in Maiduguri, amid grief and growing calls for accountability.

In its statement, Amnesty International Nigeria condemned the incident and called on Nigerian authorities to ensure those responsible are identified and brought to justice, stressing that the death was preventable.

The organisation also urged the military to enforce strict adherence to rules governing the use of firearms, particularly in civilian areas, to prevent similar occurrences.

As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the military authorities regarding the incident.