A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) airstrike on a bustling weekly market along the Borno–Yobe border on Saturday, April 11, 2025, has reportedly claimed the lives of over 200 civilians, predominantly traders, and left scores more severely injured. The horrific incident, which occurred at Jilli Market, situated between Gubio and Geidam local government areas of Borno and Yobe states respectively, has ignited a firestorm of outrage from civil society organizations, security experts, and prominent political figures across Nigeria.

Initially, the Air Component of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), through its spokesperson Sani Uba, declared the strike a success, asserting that scores of terrorists were neutralized and their vehicles destroyed. However, as grim reports of widespread civilian casualties began to surface, the Nigerian Air Force swiftly announced the launch of a comprehensive investigation, activating its Civilian Harm Accident and Investigation Cell (CHAI-Cell) to ascertain the facts.

Horrific Attack Unfolds at Bustling Market

Eyewitnesses recounted a scene of unimaginable chaos and devastation. Umar Bomai, a local who survived the attack, told Daily Trust that the airstrike occurred during peak trading hours when the market was teeming with buyers and sellers from surrounding communities like Gubio, Futchimiram, Benisheikh in Borno, and Gurokayeya, Geidam in Yobe.

“The incident happened while business activities were ongoing. Initially, we saw one jet circling the market and thought it was providing security. However, the situation changed when more jets arrived, making four in total,” Bomai described.

He continued, “We suddenly heard a loud explosion, not knowing it was an airstrike. Before we realised what was happening, the jets began striking the area, and people started running for their lives. Despite people trying to escape, the strikes continued. We counted about 200 corpses at the scene, and the number may be higher.”

Babagana Bukar, whose father was among the victims, tragically confirmed the escalating death toll. “The number of those killed could be more than 200. Some died in the market, while others were killed in nearby bushes as they tried to flee. Even in the hospital, 11 of the admitted patients have died while receiving treatment. We are still counting and recovering more bodies,” he lamented.

Malam Lawan Zanna, councillor of Futchimiram ward, corroborated these figures, stating, “We are yet to gather the actual number of those that have been killed, but an eyewitness has confirmed to me that over 200 people have been killed in the airstrike. Perhaps available data on the number of casualties will be known tomorrow but right now, all I can tell you is that we have 24 people admitted in the Specialist Hospital Geidam and the Teaching Hospital Damaturu.” Reuters also cited local sources, echoing the grim figure of 200 civilian fatalities.

Official Response and Conflicting Narratives

The Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the Yobe State Government confirmed the accidental airstrike and civilian casualties, noting that many victims were traders from Geidam LGA. Governor Mai Mala Buni swiftly directed the activation of emergency response mechanisms and deployed assessment teams to the affected area, while urging the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information.

Brig. Gen. Abdulsalam Dahiru (rtd), Special Adviser on Security Matters to the Yobe State Governor, affirmed that the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI conducted the airstrike on Jilli, described as a known Boko Haram stronghold. He confirmed that some residents from Geidam LGA who were at the weekly market were affected and are now receiving treatment at the Specialist Hospital in Geidam.

Adding another layer to the narrative, Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum disclosed that the Jilli and Gazabure markets had been officially closed five years prior, due to their notoriety as hubs allegedly utilized by insurgents and their logistics suppliers. Governor Zulum issued a stern warning against aiding, harboring, or providing logistical support to Boko Haram, stating, “I am in close consultation with the Government of Yobe State and the military hierarchy on the matter.”

The humanitarian crisis on the ground is dire. Idriss Alhaji Baffa, a community volunteer, reported that the Specialist Hospital in Geidam is severely overwhelmed, lacking bed space, with some patients treated on floors or even inside vehicles. He underscored the urgent need for blood donors, as many critically injured require transfusions, but compatible matches are limited.

A Troubling Pattern: Nigeria's History of Accidental Airstrikes

This incident tragically adds to a disturbing pattern of accidental airstrikes on civilians during military operations in Nigeria, which have claimed hundreds of lives over the years. A previous Daily Trust tally, among other sources, highlights a litany of such devastating errors:

• March 16, 2014: Misfired airstrike in Kayamla village, Borno State, killed at least 10 civilians.
• January 17, 2017: Over 100 people died in Rann, Borno State, when a jet mistakenly bombed an IDP camp and Red Cross aid workers.
• December 2017: Communities of Shafaron and Nvi in Adamawa State erroneously struck by NAF, killing at least 35 and destroying 3,000 homes.
• February 28, 2018: Mistaken airstrike in Daglun community, Borno State, resulted in 20 civilian deaths.
• April 11, 2019: Tangaram and Ajia villages, Zamfara State, hit during a raid intended for bandits, killing six children and injuring 17.
• April 2020: 17 people killed in Sakotoku, Borno State, when women and children under a mango tree were mistakenly struck.
• July 2, 2019, & April 25, 2021: Incidents in Gajigana and Mainok, Borno State, caused 13 civilian casualties and 30 soldier deaths, respectively.
• June 2021: Mistaken jet bombardment in Gengu and Argida, Niger State, struck wedding guests and other civilians.
• September 2021: Buhari village, Yobe State, hit by an erroneous airstrike, killing about a dozen civilians.
• September 26, 2021: Near Lake Chad in Borno State, at least 20 fishermen mistakenly killed by military aircraft targeting terrorists.
• December 2022: Mutumji, Zamfara State, witnessed a mistaken airstrike killing 64 civilians during an operation targeting armed groups.
• February 20, 2022: Nigerian airstrikes in Nachade village, Niger Republic, affected seven children and injured five others.
• January 2023: Over 40 herders killed in Doma, Nasarawa State, after being mistaken for bandits in a NAF strike.
• December 3, 2023: Tudun Biri, Kaduna State, a military drone strike during an Islamic religious gathering killed about 120 people.
• December 2024: Gidan Bisa and Rumtuwa communities in Sokoto State, a mistaken airstrike killed 13 civilians despite targeting Lakurawa terrorists.
• January 11, 2025: Dangebe village, Zamfara State, 15 people killed after civilians were mistakenly identified as bandits and bombed.
• June 2025: Maru LGA, Zamfara State, a military strike mistakenly killed 20 vigilantes during an operation targeting criminal elements.

Outrage and Demands for Justice Mount

The latest tragedy has triggered widespread condemnation and intensified calls for immediate justice, transparency, and systemic reforms within Nigeria's military operations. Amnesty International Nigeria, civil society organizations, and security analysts are demanding full public disclosure of investigation findings and accountability for any negligence.

Isa Sanusi, Executive Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, decried the incident, stating, “Launching air raids is not a legitimate law enforcement method by anyone’s standard. Such reckless use of deadly force is unlawful, outrageous and lays bare the Nigerian military’s shocking disregard for the lives of those it supposedly exists to protect.” He insisted that authorities must impartially investigate and hold suspected perpetrators accountable, while ensuring victims and their families receive adequate compensation.

Dr. Kabiru Adamu, a security analyst, called for a complete overhaul of the military’s air campaign. He outlined critical areas for reform:

• Transparent investigations into the recent airstrike, with public confirmation of NAF involvement, clarification of intended targets, and a detailed sequence of events.
• Demonstrable compensation measures through a standard system for ‘condolence’ or ‘solatium’ payments for death, injury, and property damage, regardless of fault.
• Institutionalization of civilian protection through the full implementation of the Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response (CHMR) Board and its Action Plan, ensuring it is well-resourced and authoritative.
• Development of a binding national Protection of Civilians (PoC) Policy by relevant ministries and offices to standardize practices across all security forces.
• Strengthening legal frameworks to ensure compliance with National and International Humanitarian Law (IHL), particularly principles of distinction and proportionality.
• Adoption of multi-layered verification for airstrike authorization, emphasizing that civilians are never legitimate targets.
• Specialized PoC training for all military levels, including the use of virtual reality tools.
• Enhanced Air-Ground Coordination, with dedicated Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) assigned to ground units for real-time target identification.
• Technological and equipment upgrades, including Precision-Guided Munitions (PGMs), Advanced ISR Capabilities, Modern Targeting Pods, and AI-Assisted Target Recognition.
• Enhanced Community Engagement to build trust through dialogue, encourage intelligence-sharing, and implement transparent compensation.

Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), similarly condemned the airstrike, pointing to recurring structural gaps like weak intelligence verification and lack of precision-targeting capacity. CISLAC demanded:

• An independent investigation and accountability through a credible, civilian-led panel comprising the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), civil society organizations, and international observers.
• Public disclosure of findings.
• Accountability for errors or negligence.
• Adequate compensation and support for victims and their families.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described the Jilli market airstrike as a “devastating failure” that should outrage every conscience. In a social media post, he lamented that innocent Nigerians had once again been reduced to collateral damage. Atiku drew a stark comparison to the value other nations place on human life, referencing a recent US operation to rescue a single pilot at immense cost, and questioned, “Here at home, we must ask: what is the value of Nigerian lives? This demands urgent review, accountability, and decisive action to prevent a recurrence.” He extended condolences to the bereaved and affected communities, emphasizing Nigeria’s duty to protect its citizens as “the ultimate essence of national security.”

Ongoing Investigations and Military Stance

While the Nigerian Air Force maintains its commitment to a thorough investigation, the spokesperson for Operation HADIN KAI, Sani Uba, reiterated that the initial strike successfully neutralized terrorists. “The post-strike assessment confirmed that the target area was struck with high accuracy, resulting in the destruction of the identified terrorist logistics enclave,” Uba stated, adding that intelligence indicated the neutralized elements were receiving logistics for coordinated attacks on troop locations.

However, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information at NAF Headquarters, confirmed the activation of the CHAI-Cell to conduct an on-the-spot assessment and establish the facts. “The Service treats all reports of possible civilian harm with the utmost seriousness and empathy, as the protection of innocent lives remains central to all NAF operations,” Ejodame affirmed, promising close collaboration with relevant authorities and community representatives during the fact-finding mission.

As the nation grapples with this latest tragedy, the focus remains firmly on the outcomes of these investigations and the concrete steps that will be taken to ensure justice, prevent recurrence, and uphold the sanctity of civilian lives in the ongoing fight against insurgency.