A Nigerian Air Force strike on Jilli Market in Yobe State has killed more than 100 civilians, with local officials and survivors fearing the final toll could exceed 200. Amnesty International has confirmed the incident and called for an independent investigation. It is one of the deadliest single-day civilian casualty events in the 16-year war against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
What happened
According to survivors and community leaders in Yobe, Nigerian Air Force jets struck Jilli Market at approximately 13:40 local time on Monday. The market, located in a district where ISWAP and Boko Haram factions have been active, was at peak hours — traders, customers, children, and day labourers were all present when the first munition landed. Subsequent passes hit a secondary crowd that had gathered to help the wounded.
The military position
The Defence Headquarters initially described the strike as a “successful operation targeting armed terrorists” before revising the statement overnight to acknowledge “possible civilian casualties” pending “a full assessment”. No senior officer has been suspended. The Air Force has not released the intelligence basis for the strike.
Amnesty’s findings
Amnesty International Nigeria, which sent a team to the area, confirmed at least 100 civilian dead and said community burial records already exceed that number. The organisation is calling for an independent, civilian-led inquiry and for the suspension of officers in the chain of command pending investigation.
The pattern
This is at least the sixth mass-casualty airstrike on Nigerian civilians by the Nigerian Air Force in the past five years. None has produced a public prosecution. Human rights organisations have long argued that the absence of accountability has normalised indiscriminate air power in Nigeria’s northeast — and that the military’s reliance on airstrikes over ground intelligence guarantees the next Jilli Market.
Leave a Reply