A 14-year-old girl has died after being hit by a stray bullet allegedly fired by military personnel during wedding celebrations in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to investigate the incident, describing it as the result of reckless use of firearms.
The secondary school student was reportedly inside her home on Saturday, April 4, when she was struck by the bullet, which witnesses say came from soldiers celebrating at a nearby event centre.
A family friend said the girl had been preparing to attend the wedding. “She lived in the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (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 day,” the source said.
Amnesty International described the death as preventable and urged authorities to ensure accountability. The girl was buried on Sunday in Maiduguri, leaving her family and friends searching for answers.
The organisation emphasized the need for a transparent, impartial, and effective investigation and warned that the misuse of firearms in civilian areas must be strictly addressed to prevent future tragedies.
