More than 100 people were killed after a Nigerian Air Force strike hit a weekly market in the country’s north-east on Sunday, in what officials described as a misdirected attack targeting Boko Haram militants, making it one of the deadliest reported military errors in recent months.
The strike took place in Yobe state, near the border with Borno — the epicentre of a jihadist insurgency that has gripped the region for over a decade. Residents had gathered for the Jilli weekly market when the air raid struck, turning a routine trading day into a scene of mass casualties.
Nigerian authorities confirmed that the operation was aimed at a suspected Boko Haram stronghold in the area, but acknowledged that civilians were among those affected. Details of how the strike went off target have not been publicly disclosed.
Amnesty International said it had verified the scale of the incident through direct contact with survivors, hospital staff and local officials. The group’s Nigeria director said they spoke with medical personnel overseeing casualties as well as victims on the ground, confirming that at least 100 people were killed and many others injured.
The absence of immediate clarity from the military has added to concerns over targeting procedures in conflict zones where civilians and armed groups often move through the same areas. Air operations have become a key tool in Nigeria’s campaign against insurgents, particularly in remote regions where ground forces face logistical challenges.
Civilians caught in a long-running conflict
The north-east has endured years of violence linked to Boko Haram and its splinter factions, with attacks on villages, markets and transport routes becoming a recurring threat. Military strikes, while intended to weaken militant networks, have at times resulted in civilian casualties, highlighting the risks of aerial operations in densely populated or poorly mapped areas.
Weekly markets such as the one in Jilli serve as economic lifelines for surrounding communities, drawing traders and families from nearby villages. An attack on such a location not only results in heavy loss of life but also disrupts fragile local economies already strained by insecurity and displacement.
For many residents, the incident reinforces a sense of vulnerability in a region where danger can come from multiple directions. While insurgent violence remains a constant threat, incidents like this raise difficult questions about whether enough safeguards are in place to protect civilians during military operations.
The government is now under pressure to provide a fuller account of what happened, including the intelligence used to authorise the strike and whether any investigation will follow. Human rights groups have repeatedly called for greater transparency and accountability in similar cases, arguing that civilian protection must remain central to counterinsurgency efforts.
As scrutiny intensifies, the Yobe strike is likely to renew debate over how Nigeria balances the urgency of confronting militant groups with the need to minimise harm to the communities caught in the conflict. The incident adds to a growing list of challenges facing the country’s security strategy, where success is increasingly judged not only by targets hit, but by the lives spared, a concern frequently highlighted by organisations such as Amnesty International.
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