By Timothy Olanrewaju
ABUJA, Nigeria (AA) - Amnesty International demanded justice for victims of a Nigerian military strike on a civilian population.
The group described as unacceptable the reasons given by the army for the weekend airstrike on the Tudun Biri community in northwest Kaduna State.
"Victims and their families must be provided with access to justice and effective remedies,” said Isa Sanusi, the head of Amnesty International in Nigeria.
The military admitted in a statement that the Dec. 3 airstrike was a mistake.
Separately, the Defence Headquarters claimed soldiers targeted suspected bandits who were embedded in the community.
The incident led to the death of 85 victims, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), but survivors said 120 were buried Monday.
Amnesty International asked the government to set up an independent panel to investigate the incident.
"These unlawful killings of civilians cannot be swept under the carpet,” said Sanusi.
Defence chief Gen. Christopher Musa and Army chief Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja visited the families of the victims as well as those who were injured.
Shuaibu Musa, deputy chief medical director of the Barau Teaching Hospital, Kaduna, said six additional children were brought to the hospital Thursday, bringing the number of injured to 81.
He said most are women and children.