Stray bullet from soldiers’ celebratory shots kills teenager in Maiduguri

A 14-year-old girl has been killed by a stray bullet allegedly fired by military personnel during celebratory gunfire at a wedding in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Reacting to the incident, Amnesty International called on Nigerian authorities to investigate what it described as the reckless use of firearms that led to the teenager’s death.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the organisation said the secondary school student was struck by the bullet on Saturday, April 4, while inside her home.

According to Amnesty International, the shot was reportedly fired by soldiers who were celebrating at a nearby event centre.

A family friend of the victim said the girl had been preparing to attend the same wedding before the tragic incident.

“She lived in the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) quarters with her family and was inside her home when the tragedy occurred,” the source said.

“She had just finished applying henna for her mother and herself, joyfully preparing for a family wedding scheduled for that same day.”

The rights group described the killing as preventable and urged authorities to ensure accountability.

It noted that the victim was buried on Sunday at the Maiduguri graveyard, adding that her family and friends are “left seeking answers for a death that was entirely preventable.”

Amnesty International called for a “transparent, impartial and effective investigation” into the incident, stressing the need to safeguard lives and prevent a recurrence.

The organisation warned that the continued misuse of firearms in civilian areas poses serious risks and must be addressed through strict enforcement and accountability.