Grief and confusion have gripped communities along the Borno–Yobe border after a Nigerian Air Force airstrike on Jilli market reportedly killed dozens of civilians during a military operation targeting Islamist militants.
The strike, which occurred on Saturday at the busy Jilli market, has triggered outrage from residents and humanitarian groups. While officials are yet to confirm an exact death toll, local accounts and rights organisations suggest the number of casualties could exceed 100.
In a swift response, the Nigerian Air Force announced it had opened an investigation into the incident, dispatching a team to the scene for what it described as a “fact-finding mission” following allegations of civilian deaths.
The military maintained that the operation was aimed at a known insurgent corridor frequently used by fighters linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). It described the strike as a “carefully planned, intelligence-driven” mission targeting what it called a terrorist enclave and logistics hub near the abandoned village of Jilli. Officials said “scores of terrorists” were killed but made no mention of civilian casualties.
Survivors tell a different story. One man receiving treatment said he had visited the market to purchase livestock when the strike hit. “I was with about 30 people and we all fell after being struck,” he recounted. Another victim, 43-year-old trader Ahmed Ali, described the chaos as people scrambled for safety, adding that he narrowly escaped death after being pulled to the ground by a friend.
Hospitals in Yobe State are currently treating multiple injured victims, with some fatalities reported among those initially rescued. Local councillor Lawan Zanna Nur Geidam described the situation as “very devastating,” noting that casualties had been transported to medical facilities in both Yobe and Borno states. He estimated that the combined number of dead and injured could be as high as 200.
Human rights organisation Amnesty International has also raised alarm, stating that more than 100 people were killed and at least 35 others seriously wounded. Its Nigeria director, Isa Sanusi, said the group had verified images of victims, including children, and confirmed it had been in contact with hospitals and eyewitnesses.
Despite the growing number of accounts pointing to civilian casualties, authorities have yet to release an official figure. The uncertainty has intensified calls for transparency as families search for missing relatives and communities demand answers.
The incident adds to a troubling pattern in Nigeria’s north-east, where previous air operations against insurgents have mistakenly struck civilian populations in villages, displacement camps, and marketplaces. Saturday’s strike now stands as one of the deadliest in recent memory, raising fresh concerns about military targeting and civilian protection in conflict zones.
