𝗙𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗞𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱, 𝗧𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗷𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝘀 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗶𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗕𝗼𝗺𝗯 𝗣𝗼𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻.

𝗕𝗬 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗧𝗔 𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗖𝗘,

12𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹, 2026.

Scores of civilians are feared dead and many others injured after a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) airstrike hit a crowded weekly market along the Borno–Yobe border on Saturday, in what residents and local officials describe as another tragic case of a misdirected military operation.

The strike occurred at Jilli Market, also referred to as Dilli Market, a bustling trading centre located between Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State and Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe State. The market serves as a key commercial hub, drawing traders and buyers from multiple surrounding communities across both states.

Witnesses said the incident happened at about 2:46 p.m. at the height of commercial activity, when several fighter jets were seen overhead before explosions tore through the area. The operation was reportedly aimed at suspected Boko Haram members believed to have infiltrated the market to extort traders and source supplies. However, the strike allegedly missed its intended targets, instead hitting civilians in large numbers.

A local eyewitness said he personally counted more than 50 bodies at the scene, adding that the death toll could rise as search and rescue efforts continue. Dozens of injured victims were evacuated to the Specialist Hospital in Geidam, while some of the critically wounded were transferred to a teaching hospital in Damaturu, where additional fatalities were later recorded.

Authorities have acknowledged the incident, although casualty figures remain disputed. The councillor representing Fichimaram Ward, Malam Lawan Zanna, confirmed that over 30 people were killed and more than 20 injured. Security officials in Yobe State also confirmed the airstrike but noted that the affected community falls within Borno State’s jurisdiction.

As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Air Force has yet to release an official statement clarifying the circumstances surrounding the strike, further fueling public concern over civilian safety in ongoing counterinsurgency operations.

The incident reflects a recurring pattern of accidental airstrikes in Nigeria’s North-East region, where military campaigns against insurgent groups have at times resulted in civilian casualties. In December 2025, a similar operation in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State reportedly led to the deaths of several civilians, including fishermen and commercial drivers, after military aircraft bombed areas around Mararaba while targeting insurgents. Years earlier, in 2021, at least 20 fishermen were killed in Kwatar Daban Masara, also in Borno, when a fighter jet mistakenly dropped bombs on a civilian settlement. In that case, the military later acknowledged the error and pledged an investigation.

Civil society organisations say such incidents are part of a broader pattern, estimating that more than 470 civilians have been killed in at least 21 erroneous military air operations across Nigeria since 2014, raising serious questions about targeting accuracy and operational safeguards.

The latest tragedy comes amid a persistently volatile security environment in the North-East, where Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) continue to carry out attacks despite sustained military pressure. Recent violence in Maiduguri, including bombings that killed over 20 people and left many others injured, has further highlighted the vulnerability of civilian populations in the region.

Security experts and humanitarian groups have continued to call for reforms in military engagement protocols, including improved intelligence gathering, stricter rules of engagement, and enhanced accountability mechanisms to minimise civilian harm. The Jilli Market incident is likely to intensify scrutiny of Nigeria’s counterinsurgency strategy, as affected communities demand justice, transparency, and assurances that such deadly errors will not be repeated.