A 14-year-old girl has been killed by a stray bullet in Maiduguri, Borno State capital.

The incident occurred on Saturday, April 4, when the secondary school student was reportedly struck while inside her family home at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) quarters.

According to Amnesty International, the fatal bullet was fired by military personnel engaging in celebratory gunfire at a nearby wedding ceremony.

But a post on social media, a handle known for posting update on the military, blamed the incident on Civilian Joint Task Force, a vigilante outfit.l

“CJTF, not military personnel, were allegedly responsible for the stray bullet that killed a 14-year-old girl in Maiduguri’s Costain area, according to Operation Hadin Kai.”

“The Theatre Command said preliminary findings showed some CJTF members were firing weapons during a social event in a nearby compound when the incident occurred.

“The act was described as unauthorised and unprofessional, with authorities launching an investigation to identify those responsible and prevent future occurrences. Operation Hadin Kai also expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and urged the public to avoid spreading unverified information,” the post read.

A family friend recounted the tragic circumstances surrounding the girl’s death, describing her final moments as filled with excitement and anticipation.

“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 girl was buried on Sunday at the Maiduguri cemetery, as grieving family members and friends demanded accountability for what they described as a preventable loss.

Amnesty International has condemned the incident and called on Nigerian authorities to carry out a thorough investigation.

In a statement, the organisation urged the government to ensure a transparent, impartial, and effective probe into the circumstances surrounding the shooting, stressing the need to safeguard civilian lives and hold those responsible to account.

The incident has renewed concerns over the dangers of celebratory gunfire and the conduct of security personnel in civilian areas, particularly in conflict-affected regions like Borno. (Daily Trust, but headline rejigged)