Nigerian air force jets struck a weekly market in northeastern Yobe state on Saturday evening, killing more than 100 civilians in what officials confirmed was a misfired operation targeting Boko Haram militants. The airstrike hit the village of Jilli near the border with Borno state, the epicenter of Nigeria's 15-year jihadist insurgency.
Death toll estimates vary significantly. Amnesty International confirmed at least 100 fatalities after speaking with survivors and hospital staff, while local officials suggest the number could reach 200. The human rights organization reported that 35 people with severe injuries were admitted to nearby emergency facilities.
The Nigerian Air Force acknowledged conducting operations against Boko Haram militants in the Jilli area but made no mention of civilian casualties in its initial statement. The military described the location as a key transit route and gathering point for terrorists and their associates.
Some people from Geidam LGA (local government area) bordering Gubio LGA in Borno state who went to the Jilli weekly market were affected
Brigadier General Dahiru Abdulsalam, military adviser to Yobe state government — Reuters
Witnesses told Amnesty International that three military aircraft fired on the market. The organization condemned what it called reckless use of deadly force, describing it as illegal and scandalous.
The Guardian emphasizes the systematic nature of civilian casualties, highlighting the 500+ deaths since 2017 and framing this as part of broader military failures. Their coverage focuses on human rights violations and structural problems in Nigeria's counterinsurgency approach, reflecting Britain's emphasis on accountability in former colonial territories.