The Nigerian Air Force has launched an investigation after a military airstrike reportedly killed dozens of civilians at a busy market in northeastern Nigeria. The strike occurred on Saturday at Jilli market, near the border between Borno and Yobe states, during an operation targeting fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province. While the military said the investigation was aimed at a known militant logistics hub and movement corridor, local residents and rights groups say civilians were among the victims. The air force confirmed it has dispatched a fact-finding team to assess the incident, as casualty figures remain unclear. Amnesty International reported that more than 100 people were killed and at least 35 seriously injured, while local officials and witnesses suggested the death toll could be as high as 200.
Hospitals in Yobe and Borno states have been overwhelmed with casualties, with some of the wounded later dying from their injuries. Survivors described scenes of chaos, saying the market was crowded at the time of the strike, with traders and livestock buyers present. The military described the operation as “carefully planned and intelligence-driven,” stating that “scores of terrorists” were killed, but it did not acknowledge civilian casualties in its initial statement. Local officials, including a district councillor in Geidam, described the incident as devastating, noting that many victims were taken to medical facilities in nearby towns such as Maiduguri and Geidam.
The strike underscores ongoing risks in Nigeria’s northeast, where military operations against insurgent groups have at times resulted in civilian casualties. The region has endured over a decade of conflict involving Boko Haram and ISWAP, leading to widespread displacement, humanitarian crises, and repeated concerns over the conduct of air operations. Authorities say the outcome of the investigation will determine the circumstances of the strike and whether errors were made.
