More than 100 civilians, including children, died when a Nigerian Air Force strike intended for Boko Haram militants hit a weekly market in northeastern Yobe state, according to Amnesty International and local officials. The Saturday morning attack on Jilli market represents one of the deadliest incidents of civilian casualties from military operations in the region's 15-year insurgency.
Officials confirmed a "misfire" had occurred but provided no details about how the operation went wrong. The Yobe State Government acknowledged that a military strike was targeting "a stronghold of the Boko Haram jihadi group in the area" when "some people who went to the Jilli weekly market were affected."
Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International's Nigeria director, said the organization confirmed the death toll by speaking directly with survivors and hospital staff managing casualties. "We are in touch with people that are there; we spoke with the hospital. We spoke with the person in charge of casualties and we spoke with the victims," Sanusi told reporters.
The attack occurred near the border between Yobe and Borno states, the epicenter of Nigeria's battle against Islamist militants. According to an Associated Press tally, Nigerian military air raids have killed at least 500 civilians since 2017 in operations targeting armed groups operating from vast forest enclaves.
"We spoke with the hospital. We spoke with the person in charge of casualties and we spoke with the victims." — Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International Nigeria
The Nigerian Air Force said it carried out "mop-up" air strikes on "identified terrorist locations" within the Jilli axis of Borno State on Saturday but has not confirmed striking the market or acknowledged civilian casualties. The air force did not immediately respond to inquiries from international media.
Security analysts have pointed to significant gaps in intelligence gathering and insufficient coordination between ground troops, air assets, and civilian protection protocols as contributing factors to repeated civilian casualty incidents. The remote northeastern region where the strike occurred has seen intensified military operations as government forces attempt to counter Boko Haram's continued presence.
The attack highlights the persistent challenge facing African militaries conducting counterterrorism operations in populated areas. Despite extensive international training and equipment support, civilian casualty incidents continue to undermine public trust in government forces across the Sahel region.
The Yobe State Emergency Management Agency dispatched response teams to the area and urged the public to remain calm following preliminary reports of the incident. Local officials confirmed that many of those killed were residents from the Geidam local government area who had traveled to attend the weekly market.
This latest incident occurs as Nigerian forces maintain pressure on Boko Haram remnants operating along the Chad-Niger border region. The group, which has killed thousands and displaced millions across northeastern Nigeria since 2009, continues to launch attacks despite military claims of having "technically defeated" the insurgency.
The civilian casualties raise familiar questions about military tactics in densely populated areas where distinguishing between combatants and non-combatants remains challenging. International human rights groups have repeatedly called for improved safeguards and accountability mechanisms in Nigerian military operations.
Market attacks have become a recurring tragedy in the region, whether carried out by militant groups targeting civilian gatherings or, as in this case, military forces hitting the wrong target. The weekly markets serve as vital economic hubs for rural communities already struggling with food insecurity and displacement from years of conflict.
- Over 100 civilians killed in Saturday airstrike on Jilli market
- Nigerian military was targeting Boko Haram stronghold in operation
- At least 500 civilian deaths from air raids documented since 2017
- Victims included children and weekly market vendors
