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The recent airstrike by the Nigerian military on a bustling market in the north-eastern region has left a devastating toll, with estimates of civilian casualties soaring to nearly 200. The attack, which occurred on Saturday in the Jilli market straddling Borno and Yobe states, is being scrutinised as the latest instance of a military campaign that continues to claim innocent lives in the name of counterterrorism.
Unfolding Tragedy
The airstrike, described by the military as a “precision operation” targeting the Islamic State West Africa Province (Iswap), has drawn intense criticism from survivors and local officials. Witnesses reported that the market was teeming with civilians at the time of the attack. Local councillor Lawan Zanna Nur Geidam lamented the catastrophic event, stating, “Over 200 people have lost their lives from the airstrike at the market.” Meanwhile, Amnesty International has placed the death toll at over 100, with numbers expected to rise.
The Nigerian military’s statement, attributed to spokesperson Sani Uba, claimed that the operation was executed with “high accuracy,” asserting that numerous terrorists were neutralised. However, eyewitness accounts paint a starkly different picture. Mala Garba, a 42-year-old trader recovering in a Maiduguri hospital, reflected, “I don’t know if there were jihadists at the market. We are just ordinary people.”
A Complex Landscape
Nigeria’s security situation has been increasingly dire, plagued by multiple conflicts, including a protracted insurgency led by Boko Haram. Since its split in 2016, Iswap has become a significant threat, while the north-west grapples with banditry and persistent clashes between herders and farmers. The military’s operations against these groups have often resulted in collateral damage, with reports indicating that at least 500 civilians have been killed in airstrikes since 2017.
Experts have raised concerns about the military’s operational strategies, suggesting that more thoughtful approaches could be employed. Malik Samuel from Good Governance Africa remarked, “In a busy market frequented by hundreds of people, it would be impossible to differentiate between fighters and civilians. Would it not be better to trace people leaving the market instead of just hitting a market that you know clearly that there would be civilians?”
Accountability in Question
The aftermath of such tragic events often leads to calls for accountability, yet the military has a history of self-investigation that seldom results in substantial findings. Critics argue this lack of accountability only emboldens further indiscriminate actions. “You cannot trust the military to investigate themselves,” stated Isa Sanusi, executive director of Amnesty International Nigeria. “Whenever they investigate themselves, the outcome is as usual: they exonerate themselves.”
The ramifications of this airstrike extend beyond the immediate loss of life—it has the potential to erode public trust in the military and government institutions. The impact of such violence may also hinder the ongoing efforts to combat insurgency and banditry, undermining the very objectives the military claims to pursue.
Why it Matters
This tragic incident is emblematic of a broader crisis in Nigeria, where the lines between military action and civilian safety are increasingly blurred. As the country grapples with entrenched violence and instability, the failure to protect innocent lives threatens to exacerbate existing tensions, prolong the cycle of conflict, and undermine efforts to restore peace in a region ravaged by years of turmoil. The world watches as Nigeria confronts a pivotal moment in its fight against terror, raising urgent questions about the cost of security and the sanctity of civilian life.