The Nigerian military has come under intense public scrutiny following a deadly airstrike on Jilli market along the Borno–Yobe border, insisting the operation targeted a terrorist enclave despite mounting reports of significant civilian casualties.
The strike, conducted on Saturday under Operation Hadin Kai, has sparked widespread condemnation from affected communities, government officials, and human rights organisations, with conflicting casualty figures deepening concerns over the true scale of the tragedy.
Initial reports placed the number of civilian deaths at over 40, but subsequent accounts suggest the toll may be far higher. A local councillor, Malam Lawan Zannah, was quoted as saying that up to 200 people could have been killed, while many others remain injured without adequate access to medical care due to logistical challenges.
In its defence, the military said the strike was based on credible intelligence that identified the location as a major logistics hub and meeting point for fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
The spokesperson for Operation Hadin Kai, Lt. Col. Sanni Uba, said intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations had tracked suspicious movements of motorcycles and armed vehicles converging on the area prior to the strike. He added that multiple intelligence sources confirmed the presence of Boko Haram elements and their collaborators.
According to Uba, the air operation was “carefully planned and executed,” resulting in the neutralisation of several террористs, destruction of logistics vehicles, and disruption of planned attacks within the Gubio axis.
He linked the airstrike to recent insurgent activities, including a January improvised explosive device attack that killed eight soldiers, as well as coordinated assaults in Ngamdu and Benisheik earlier this month.
However, the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that civilians were among those affected, describing the incident as an accidental strike on a populated market. The agency said traders from Geidam were among the victims and that emergency response teams had been deployed to assess the situation and provide assistance.
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, acknowledged the incident, reiterating that Jilli market had been shut down years ago due to its alleged use by insurgents.
“I have been properly briefed on the airstrike… the market was closed five years ago,” he said, noting that discussions were ongoing with military authorities and the Yobe State Government.
Officials in Yobe State also confirmed that the intended target was a Boko Haram enclave but admitted that civilians were inadvertently caught in the strike. Injured victims, they said, had been evacuated and were responding to treatment.
Human rights group Amnesty International condemned the attack, describing it as “reckless” and calling for an independent and transparent investigation. The organisation cited witness accounts suggesting that more than 100 people may have died in the bombing.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar also criticised the operation, calling it a “devastating failure” and questioning the protection of civilian lives in Nigeria’s counter-insurgency efforts.
“While targeting insurgents, innocent Nigerians were once again reduced to collateral damage,” he said, urging urgent reforms and accountability.
Amid the growing backlash, the Nigerian Air Force announced the launch of an investigation through its Civilian Harm Accident and Investigation Cell to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the strike. The service pledged transparency and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting civilian lives.
Security analysts say the incident underscores persistent gaps in intelligence verification and targeting precision in Nigeria’s counter-insurgency operations.
Kabir Adamu, a security expert and Managing Director of Beacon Security and Intelligence Ltd, called for a comprehensive overhaul of airstrike protocols, emphasising the need for stronger intelligence coordination and institutionalised civilian protection measures.
Another analyst, Chidi Omeje, described the incident as a tragic but familiar consequence of asymmetric warfare, where insurgents often blend with civilian populations, complicating target identification.
He stressed that while such operations are inherently complex, improved intelligence remains critical to reducing civilian harm.
Security expert Jackson Ojo also raised concerns about accountability, warning that repeated incidents risk eroding public confidence in the military.
“Precision must remain the cornerstone of air operations. These recurring tragedies raise serious questions,” he said.
Offering support for the military’s position, former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), said the operation was based on credible intelligence, noting that the market had long functioned as a logistics base for террорист groups.
“Any loss of innocent life is deeply regrettable, but the responsibility lies with terrorists who embed themselves among civilians,” he said.
The latest incident comes just weeks after a similar airstrike in Borno State struck civilian areas, killing at least 23 people and injuring more than 100, further heightening concerns over civilian safety in ongoing military campaigns.
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