A recent airstrike by the Nigerian military targeting a market in the north-eastern region of the country has ignited outrage and raised serious concerns over the military’s operational strategies. The attack, which occurred on Saturday at Jilli market, resulted in the deaths of up to 200 individuals, predominantly civilians, according to local sources. This incident is part of a troubling pattern of air operations that have increasingly claimed civilian lives in the ongoing battle against insurgency.
The Incident and Its Aftermath
The military described the operation as a “precision airstrike,” aimed at eliminating members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), an offshoot of Boko Haram. However, the local response contradicts the military’s narrative. Witnesses and local officials assert that the majority of those killed were innocent traders and shoppers, not the militants the military claims to have targeted. “I don’t know if there were jihadists at the market. We are just ordinary people,” lamented Mala Garba, a survivor who was treated for injuries at a hospital in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state.
Lawan Zanna Nur Geidam, a local councillor, reported that the death toll had surpassed 200, reflecting the scale of the tragedy. “It’s a very devastating incident at Jilli market,” he stated, emphasising the profound loss felt by the community. In a later admission, Brig Gen Dahiru Abdulsalam, a military adviser to the Yobe state government, acknowledged that civilians had indeed been affected by the strike.
Military Justifications and Civilian Impact
The Nigerian military defended the airstrike, asserting it was based on “sustained intelligence” about a significant terrorist enclave located near the market. Military spokesperson Sani Uba claimed that the operation was executed with high precision, leading to the neutralisation of multiple terrorists. However, experts and local residents have cast doubt on this assertion, questioning the justification for such a high-risk attack in a densely populated area.
Malik Samuel, a researcher with Good Governance Africa, noted the inherent challenges in distinguishing between militants and civilians in a bustling market environment. He suggested that alternative tactics, such as monitoring individuals leaving the market, might have been more effective in targeting insurgents without inflicting civilian casualties. “Would it not be better to trace people leaving the market and going to known areas occupied by this group?” he asked, highlighting the complexities of military operations in civilian areas.
The Broader Context of Nigeria’s Security Crisis
This incident is emblematic of a larger trend in Nigeria, where ongoing conflicts have led to significant civilian losses. Since 2017, reports indicate that military airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 500 civilians. Notably, a bombing in 2017 at a camp for displaced persons in Borno claimed 115 lives, while a series of airstrikes on a religious gathering in Kaduna state in December 2023 killed more than 120.
The lack of accountability within the military has exacerbated these issues, fostering a culture where such operations continue with little oversight. Isa Sanusi, the executive director of Amnesty International Nigeria, expressed deep concerns about the military’s self-investigative processes, stating, “You cannot trust the military to investigate themselves. Whenever they investigate themselves, the outcome is as usual: they exonerate themselves.”
International Response and Implications
Internationally, the United States has previously critiqued Nigeria for its failure to protect vulnerable civilian populations from jihadist attacks, a criticism that underscores the complexities of the security situation in the region. While the Nigerian government faces accusations of negligence in safeguarding its citizens, the reality remains that both Muslim and Christian civilians are often caught in the crossfire of these violent conflicts.
In December 2025, the US conducted airstrikes against an Islamist group known as Lakurawa in north-west Nigeria, further complicating an already tense security landscape.
Why it Matters
The tragic airstrike on Jilli market is a stark reminder of the collateral damage inflicted in the fight against terrorism. As the Nigerian military grapples with insurgent groups like ISWAP and Boko Haram, the rising civilian death toll raises ethical and operational questions about their strategies. Without accountability and a commitment to protecting innocent lives, the military’s actions risk undermining public trust and could hinder efforts to stabilise the region. The challenge remains: how can Nigeria effectively combat terrorism while ensuring the safety of its citizens?
