An airstrike carried out by a Nigerian military jet on Saturday killed at least 56 people at Jilli Market, located on the border between Borno and Yobe states. The attack occurred around 2:46 p.m. during peak trading hours, when the market was filled with traders and buyers from Gubio, Chiweram, Benisheikh, Gurokayeya and Geidam. Eyewitnesses reported that four fighter jets were involved, though only three were clearly seen. One eyewitness counted 56 bodies and assisted in rescuing two injured persons. The strike was reportedly part of an operation targeting suspected Boko Haram insurgents believed to have visited the market to collect levies and supplies. Malam Lawan Zanna, councillor of Fichimaram Ward, confirmed the airstrike and stated that over 30 people were initially reported dead, with more than 20 hospitalised in Geidam and two referred to Damaturu Teaching Hospital. Nine of the injured later died, pushing the death toll higher. Brigadier General Abdulsalam Dahiru (rtd), Special Adviser to the Yobe State Governor on Security Matters, confirmed the incident but clarified that Jilli village falls under Gubio LGA in Borno State. Amnesty International condemned the strike, claiming over 100 people were killed and 35 severely injured, with victims taken to Geidam General Hospital. The Nigerian Air Force has not responded to requests for comment.
The most troubling aspect of this airstrike is that it was executed by Nigeria's own military against its civilians, not by insurgents. Malam Lawan Zanna's account of panic and sustained bombing at Jilli Market reveals a catastrophic failure in intelligence and operational control. The fact that the jets targeted a known weekly market—where hundreds gather peacefully every Saturday—undermines the claim that this was a precision strike against Boko Haram elements.
This incident does not occur in isolation. For years, military operations in the Northeast have relied heavily on aerial bombardments due to the difficulty of ground engagements. However, the persistent pattern of civilian casualties suggests systemic flaws in targeting protocols and real-time intelligence. The military's inability to distinguish between insurgents collecting levies and ordinary traders points to either outdated intelligence or a dangerous overreliance on aerial force in populated areas. Amnesty International's report of over 100 deaths, far exceeding official figures, further erodes public trust in official narratives.
Ordinary residents of border communities like Jilli are caught between insurgent violence and state overreach. Farmers, traders and women selling goods now face lethal risk simply by attending market day—a cornerstone of rural livelihoods. Each such incident deepens resentment toward security forces and weakens local cooperation, which is essential for long-term counterinsurgency success.
This is not the first time Nigerian air operations have hit civilian gatherings. Similar incidents in Rann and other border markets suggest a recurring failure in verification processes. When markets become war zones by mistake, the military's legitimacy in the region is inevitably compromised.
