Nigerian Air Force Probes Alleged Civilian Deaths in Yobe Airstrike

The Nigerian Air Force is investigating reports that a recent airstrike targeting Boko Haram in Yobe State may have killed civilians after it allegedly hit a market. While the military says the operation was based on intelligence tracking terrorist movements, Amnesty International claims over 100 people were killed and dozens injured. Authorities have launched a fact-finding mission as concerns grow, while officials note the area had previously been shut down due to terrorist activity.

The Nigerian Air Force has launched a formal investigation into allegations that civilians were killed during a recent military airstrike aimed at Boko Haram insurgents in the northeastern region of the country. The development comes amid growing concern from local communities following reports that numerous non-combatants may have been affected by the operation.
According to residents of the affected area, the airstrike, which took place over the weekend, hit a local market, raising fears that civilians present at the time may have been caught in the attack. Witness accounts suggest that the location was busy when the strike occurred, intensifying the scale of the alleged casualties.
In an official statement released on Sunday, Nigerian Air Force spokesperson Sanni Uba explained that the operation was carried out based on sustained intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. These efforts reportedly tracked the movement of suspected terrorist elements, including motorcycles and gun trucks, which were observed converging on the targeted location. The Air Force maintained that the strike was part of ongoing efforts to neutralise insurgent threats in the region.
Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet Ejodame further emphasized that the Air Force is treating the allegations of civilian harm with utmost seriousness. He noted that the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) has ordered the immediate activation of the Civilian Harm Accident and Investigation Cell (CHAI-Cell). This specialised unit has been tasked with proceeding to the scene to conduct a detailed fact-finding mission and determine the accuracy of the claims, as well as assess the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Meanwhile, human rights organisation Amnesty International reported on Monday that more than 100 people were allegedly killed and at least 35 others severely injured in the strike. The incident reportedly occurred in Jilli village in Yobe State, an area that has long been at the centre of the insurgency led by Boko Haram. Amnesty International cited eyewitnesses who claimed that three military jets carried out the strike, firing directly on a market in the village. The organisation shared these claims in a statement published on the social media platform X.
Responding to the situation, the Nigerian Air Force reiterated that the airstrike was part of intensified operations aimed at tracking and neutralising terrorist groups responsible for recent attacks on security personnel within the broader conflict zone. According to the Air Force, the follow-up strikes specifically targeted fleeing insurgents and regrouping cells attempting to exploit the challenging terrain of the region to evade capture.
In reaction to the reports, Babagana Umara Zulum, the governor of neighbouring Borno State, provided additional context regarding the targeted location. He stated that the market in question had been officially shut down by the government approximately five years ago after it was identified as a logistics hub frequently used by terrorists and their collaborators. This, he suggested, may have influenced the decision to target the area.
Nigeria has been grappling with a protracted insurgency in its northeastern region for more than a decade. The conflict, primarily driven by Boko Haram and its splinter groups, has resulted in the deaths of thousands of people and the displacement of millions across the Lake Chad Basin. The ongoing violence continues to pose significant humanitarian and security challenges for the country and the wider region.