The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on the Nigerian Air Force to urgently account for a series of reported airstrikes that allegedly resulted in civilian casualties in different parts of the country.

The Commission expressed deep concern over what it described as a recurring and troubling pattern of incidents linked to military aerial operations carried out in the course of counter-insurgency and anti-banditry campaigns.

NHRC Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, said the Commission was increasingly alarmed by reports suggesting that women, children, and other vulnerable civilians had been killed or injured during such operations, raising questions about possible violations of the right to life and human dignity.

While acknowledging the government’s responsibility to combat insecurity, the NHRC stressed that all military actions must strictly comply with legal frameworks and international humanitarian law, particularly the principles of distinction, proportionality, and military necessity designed to protect civilian lives.

Ojukwu also questioned why such incidents continue to be recorded despite earlier assurances that operational procedures had been reviewed to reduce civilian harm.

Among the cases referenced by the Commission are reported incidents at Jilli Market in Yobe State, Shiroro Market in Niger State, and Tumfa Market in Zamfara State, which occurred between April and May and were cited as part of a worrying trend requiring urgent attention.

The NHRC firmly rejected the idea that civilian casualties should be accepted as unavoidable consequences of security operations, insisting that stronger safeguards must be implemented.

The Commission therefore called on the Nigerian Air Force to provide a comprehensive and transparent explanation of the incidents and to outline measures being taken to prevent a recurrence.

It also demanded independent investigations into all reported cases, stating that affected families deserve justice, compensation, and adequate support.

Halima Haliru Umar will spend 20 years behind bars following her conviction for illegally carrying war-grade ammunition and attempting to aid terrorist activities in the country.

The presiding judge, Justice Hauwa Yilwa, delivered the judgment after the convict chose to admit to the core components of the charges preferred against her by the state.

Umar was initially intercepted and taken into custody by operatives of the Department of State Services in Plateau State.

Following her arrest, the secret police filed a four-count charge against her, touching on terrorism support and illegal possession of firearms.

When she was brought before the court for her formal arraignment on March 11, the defendant decided not to prolong the legal process. She entered a guilty plea to counts three and four of the criminal charge.

These specific counts centered on her being caught with 302 rounds of live ammunition meant for an AK-47 assault rifle, alongside her deliberate attempts to provide logistical or material backing to terrorist networks.

Reviewing the judicial proceedings, Justice Yilwa emphasized that Umar’s decision to plead guilty on her first day of arraignment carried legal consequences.

The judge noted that by admitting guilt to the third and fourth counts, the defendant had legally accepted the facts of the crime as presented by the prosecution team. Consequently, she forfeited her right to mount a defense or challenge the evidence brought by the government.

Before the final sentence was handed down, the defense counsel, Hamza Dantani, made a passionate plea to the bench for judicial leniency. He urged the court to consider that his client was a first-time offender who had shown immediate remorse for her actions.

Dantani also stressed that she saved the court’s time by entering an early guilty plea rather than dragging out the trial.

Furthermore, the defense lawyer informed the court that the convict is a nursing mother. He revealed that her one-year-old infant was actually with her in custody at the time of her arrest by the secret police. Based on these humanitarian grounds, he begged the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing.

On his part, the prosecution counsel, Callistus Eze, did not oppose the claim regarding her clean record. He confirmed to the court that the state had no prior criminal record or past convictions listed against the defendant.

After listening to the arguments from both legal teams, Justice Yilwa rose for a brief recess to deliberate on the appropriate punishment. Upon her return to the courtroom, she pronounced the final sentence, slamming Umar with a 20-year jail term for the third count and a one-year sentence for the fourth count.

However, the legal battles are not entirely over for the convict. Justice Yilwa subsequently fixed July 9 for the commencement of full trial regarding counts one and two of the charge sheet. Umar had previously pleaded not guilty to these remaining counts, forcing the prosecution to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt when the court reconvenes.

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