A 14-year-old secondary school student has been killed by a stray bullet in Maiduguri, Borno State, in an incident that has sparked outrage and renewed concerns over the misuse of firearms by security personnel.
The tragic incident occurred on Saturday, 4 April, when the victim was reportedly struck inside her home at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) quarters. The bullet was allegedly fired by military personnel engaged in celebratory gunfire at a nearby wedding event.
A family friend, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the victim’s final moments as both ordinary and heartbreaking.
“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 young girl was later confirmed dead, with her burial held on Sunday morning at the Maiduguri cemetery in accordance with Islamic rites.
The incident has drawn condemnation from Amnesty International, which called on Nigerian authorities to conduct a thorough and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
In a statement, the organisation stressed the need for accountability and preventive measures.
“There must be a transparent, impartial and effective investigation into this incident to safeguard lives and ensure justice,” Amnesty International said.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from the military authorities regarding the incident.
Family members and residents have continued to demand answers, describing the death as avoidable and urging the government to take decisive action to prevent a recurrence.
