A devastating airstrike by the Nigerian military on a bustling market in the north-east has resulted in the deaths of as many as 200 individuals, predominantly civilians. This incident, which took place on Saturday at Jilli market straddling the borders of Borno and Yobe states, has ignited outrage and skepticism regarding the military’s justification for the attack.
A Grim Toll
Survivors and local officials are grappling with the aftermath of the airstrike, which has been described by the military as a “precision airstrike” targeting the Islamic State West Africa Province (Iswap). However, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Local councillor Lawan Zanna Nur Geidam reported that over 200 people lost their lives during the strike, while Amnesty International confirmed that the death toll is expected to climb past 100.
The Nigerian military has long struggled to contain the insurgent threat posed by Boko Haram and its splinter group, Iswap, which emerged in 2016. Yet, this airstrike marks yet another instance where the line between combatants and civilians has become tragically blurred.
Questions Over Military Claims
In a statement released on X, military spokesperson Sani Uba asserted that the airstrike was executed with “high accuracy” and that the targeted area was a known terrorist stronghold. “Scores of terrorists were neutralised in the strike,” he claimed. However, the accounts of local residents cast doubt on these assertions. Mala Garba, a trader recovering from injuries sustained in the attack, expressed disbelief, saying, “I don’t know if there were jihadists at the market. We are just ordinary people.”
The conflicting narratives raise significant questions about the military’s operational strategies. Malik Samuel, a researcher with Good Governance Africa, pointed out the inherent difficulties in distinguishing between combatants and civilians in such a crowded environment. “It’s a major logistics route for the group,” he acknowledged, but he questioned the wisdom of targeting a market swarming with innocent patrons. “Would it not be better to trace people leaving the market and going to known areas occupied by this group?” he asked.
A History of Civilian Casualties
The tragic loss of life in Jilli is not an isolated incident. Since 2017, the Nigerian military has reportedly killed at least 500 civilians in airstrikes intended to combat insurgents. Past attacks have included a catastrophic strike on a camp for displaced people in Borno that claimed over 115 lives, as well as airstrikes on a religious gathering in Kaduna state that resulted in the deaths of more than 120 individuals.
The apparent lack of accountability for these actions has led to widespread frustration among human rights advocates. “The lack of accountability is a big problem,” Samuel added, emphasising that it emboldens the military to continue such operations without fear of repercussions. Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International Nigeria’s executive director, echoed these sentiments, labelling the military’s self-investigations as untrustworthy: “Whenever they investigate themselves, the outcome is as usual: they exonerate themselves.”
Erosion of Trust
The consequences of such deadly airstrikes extend beyond immediate loss of life. The ongoing violence and operational failures severely undermine public trust in governmental institutions and can potentially hinder the broader fight against insurgency and banditry. The recent airstrike at Jilli market serves as a grim reminder of the complex and perilous situation in Nigeria, where the battle against terrorism often comes at an unthinkable human cost.
Why it Matters
The catastrophic events at Jilli market reveal the precarious balance between military action and civilian safety in Nigeria’s north-east. As the country grapples with multiple insurgencies, the tragic loss of life underscores the urgent need for accountability and reform within the military. Without a commitment to protecting civilian lives and ensuring transparent investigations into such incidents, the fight against terrorism will remain mired in controversy, further destabilising an already vulnerable region.