Femi Falana gives FG two-week ultimatum to compensate victims of accidental military airstrikes

Femi Falana, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to provide compensation to victims of military airstrikes over the past seven years. In a statement on Sunday, December 10, the human rights lawyer warned that legal action would be taken against the government in a Federal High Court if the specified demand is not addressed within the stipulated timeframe.

Scores of civilians have died over the years due to accidental bombings by the Nigerian military.

Falana said after the Rann bombing of January 2017, the government set up a commission “mandated to review extant rules of engagement applicable in the armed forces of Nigeria as well as the extent of compliance with the rules. Part of the mandate of the commission was to also prefer means of preventing violations of international humanitarian and human rights law”.

Falana said in a statement: “No doubt, the military authorities accepted responsibility for the airstrikes and claimed that the crashes were caused by ‘accidents’. But no compensation was paid to those who were injured and the families of scores of people who lost their lives in the tragic incidents.

“The Commission was given 90 days for the assessment. Our law firm represented the victims of Rann airstrike at the Commission of Enquiry. Upon the conclusion of the assignment, the Commission submitted its report.

“The Federal Government should pay adequate compensation to victims of all airstrikes that have occurred in Nigeria in the past seven years. If our demand is not met within the next two weeks, we will sue the Federal Government at the Federal High Court to secure the enforcement of the fundamental rights of the victims to life.”