The world woke up to the news of a bombing of a local market close to the borders of terrorism-ravaged Borno and Yobe States in Nigeria on Saturday, April 11 2026.
The strikes, carried out by operatives of Operation HADIN KAI, immediately sparked widespread outrage, with human rights groups, including Amnesty International, opposition politicians, and public figures condemning the incident amid conflicting accounts of reported civilian casualties.
While some local sources reported the death toll at about 50 people, others
reported over 200 casualties following the bombing at Jilli Market. Since the fight against insurgency began in Nigeria over a decade ago, concerns have been raised about civilian casualties during military air operations, especially in the northeast.
The possibility of killing civilians during such military raids has spurred debates about operational procedures, intelligence verification, and accountability mechanisms.
While military authorities have consistently maintained that insurgent groups intentionally hide among civilian populations, making operations extremely complex, human rights organisations have insisted that civilian protection must
remain central to military strategy.
Amnesty International, CISLAC Condemn Market Bombing
Amnesty International has condemned the bombing, while noting that about 100 people were killed during the military operation.
The rights organisation said the emergency unit of Geidam General Hospital, close to the market, received at least 35 individuals with severe injuries following the attack.
The human rights group further criticised the operation, stating, “Launching air raids is not a legitimate law enforcement method by anyone’s standard.”
The group described the action as reckless and unlawful, adding that it reflects a disturbing disregard for civilian lives.
Amnesty International also urged Nigerian authorities to conduct an immediate and impartial investigation into the incident and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) condemned the Nigerian Air Force airstrike on the civilian market along the Borno–Yobe boundary in which dozens were reported dead and several others injured.
The organisation, in a statement signed by its Executive Director of CISLAC/TI-Nigeria, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), said the incident reportedly occurred during operations targeting insurgents and noted that it reflects previous cases of civilian casualties in conflict-affected communities.
CISLAC also extended condolences to the victims and called for an urgent, transparent, and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack.
The group highlighted concerns about recurring issues observed in similar incidents, particularly around intelligence verification and targeting processes.
“We find it disturbing that evidence from similar cases shows recurring structural gaps such as weak intelligence verification; lack of precision targeting capacity; pressure for rapid results,” the group said.
“Airstrikes often rely on single-source or outdated intelligence, especially in environments where insurgents mix with civilians. Just as military units under constant pressure to neutralize insurgents quickly, lowering verification thresholds.”
It called for an independent investigation and accountability measures involving relevant institutions and stakeholders.
“As a matter of urgency, we demand an Independent Investigation and Accountability with an established credible civilian-led investigative panel comprising the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Civil Society, and international observers where necessary; public disclosure of findings and accountability for errors or negligence; and adequate compensation and support to victims and families,” the group said.
CISLAC recommended the adoption of measures aimed at reducing civilian risks during military operations.
“We recommend immediate adoption of the Civilian Protection Framework to institutionalise Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response used by modern militaries; mandatory civilian risk assessments before strikes; formulation and implementation of a comprehensive policy on No-strike lists (markets, hospitals, religious sites); real-time abort protocols when civilian presence is detected,” the group said.
The organisation also called for the adoption of practices used in global counterterrorism operations to improve operational procedures.
It said, “We call for the review and adoption of best practices from Global
Counterterrorism Operations such as Multi-Layered Intelligence Verification; Persistent Surveillance Before Engagement; Precision-Guided Munitions (PGMs); Civil-Military Coordination through Civilian Joint Task Force, round verification; early warning signals and local intelligence validation; and Post-Strike Civilian Harm Assessment.”
It further recommended upgrades in defence equipment and systems to enhance operational coordination.
“We recommend a comprehensive upgrade in Defence critical hardware, such as integration of ISR drones with real-time video feeds; facial recognition/pattern-of-life analytics; precision-guided weapons; secured communication systems linking pilots to ground intelligence units,” the organisation said.
The group also called for stronger oversight and reporting mechanisms on military operations and civilian casualties.
“We call for a comprehensive Civilian Protection Policy across all armed forces; adequate civilian oversight, particularly the National Assembly, must enforce regular oversight hearings on military operations; and mandatory reporting of civilian casualty incidents,” the organisation said.
“CISLAC reiterates that civilian protection is not optional but a legal and moral obligation in every counter-terrorism operational planning and process,” it said. “Counterterrorism operations that repeatedly result in civilian casualties are counterproductive and unsustainable.”
It also called for reforms to operational, training, and accountability frameworks to prevent recurrence of such incidents.
“We further call on the Nigerian government to urgently reform its operational, training, and accountability frameworks to ensure that such tragic incidents do not become a normalised feature of military operations,” it said.
Local Councillor Says About 200 Died from The Bombing
The councillor of Fichiram Ward, Malam Lawan Zannah, who confirmed the incident, said he verified the number of casualties to be about 200.
Mr Zannah said, “The incident affected many people in the area, and from the information available to us, the number of those who lost their lives is very high. “I personally verified the figures, and they show that about 200 people have died as a result of the incident.
“At the moment, only 23 victims are receiving treatment within Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe State, as there are no available vehicles to transport many of the injured to hospitals.”
Military Defends Airstrike, Says Jilli Market Is Terrorists’ Hub
The Nigerian military has defended the air strike on Jilli market, saying those killed in the strike were terrorists and terrorists’ accomplices. The military maintained that Jilli Market was a legitimate military target, describing the location as a known logistics hub and convergence point for fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Sanni Uba, spokesperson for Operation Hadin Kai in Nigeria’s northeastern region, said the operation was conducted on April 11 following intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions over the Bindul-Jilli axis.
Mr Uba said the military carried out a precision strike on a terrorist’s enclave and logistics hub where terrorists and their collaborators meet. He noted that the strike followed recent attacks in the region, including an improvised explosive device (IED) incident in January along the Bindul route, which led to the death of eight soldiers, and coordinated attacks on April 9 in Ngamdu and Benisheik.
The military said the aerial surveillance observed motorcycles and vehicles converging near Jilli, with the movement later corroborated by human intelligence sources.
“More recently, on 9 April, coordinated attacks were recorded in Ngamdu and Benisheik, supported by the same terrorist logistics network. Consequently, the Theatre intensified overhead surveillance and intelligence gathering across the area in response to persistent reports of terrorist movement and logistics activity.
“On 11 April 2026, multiple reports were received of ISWAP gun trucks (GT) and motorcycles (MC) moving along the axis,” Mr Uba said. He further noted that the military carried out a “rigorous” targeting process before executing the air strikes.
He added, “Post-strike assessment confirmed that the target area was struck with high accuracy, destroying the identified terrorist logistics enclave. Scores of terrorists were neutralised in the strike, with their vehicles and technical destroyed, while surviving elements were observed fleeing in multiple directions.”
The military said intelligence suggested that those targeted were preparing logistics for planned attacks on troop locations in the Gubio axis. The military further said Turja Bulu, a suspected terrorist’s logistics courier, was arrested a day after the bombing on April 12 in Ngamdu, and confessed to involvement in a previous attack in Benisheik. The military high command has confirmed that an internal review is underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident. The Yobe state government also confirmed that the operation was carried out during a military operation targeted at suspected terrorists in the area.
The Dilemma: The Reality on the Ground
For over a decade, communities across northeastern Nigeria have lived under the fear of terrorists’ activities. Several villages have been displaced, schools have been shut down, and farmlands have been abandoned, while trade routes have remained increasingly dangerous to traverse.
Despite the insurgency, in many parts of Yobe and Borno states, weekly markets continue operating as they are essential to daily survival. Traders travel from nearby villages carrying grains, vegetables, livestock, fuel, and household goods to sell in the markets and make a living. Some of these journeys take hours across rough terrains vulnerable to attacks by armed groups.
However, security analysts say these markets also exist within a difficult reality, as insurgent groups have historically infiltrated civilian spaces for logistics, supplies, taxation, and recruitment. Terrorists also sometimes blend into ordinary populations. In some areas, insurgents have been found purchasing food, fuel, medicine, and communication materials from local traders. This reality creates a dangerous overlap between legitimate economic activity and suspected militant logistics networks.
The military has continued to face enormous pressure to disrupt insurgent supply chains, as air operations have increasingly become a central component of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism strategy, particularly in remote territories where ground offensives are difficult and dangerous. But some experts say the complexity of the battlefield sometimes makes target identification extremely difficult.
Counterinsurgency warfare depends heavily on intelligence, especially as decisions involving airstrikes often rely on surveillance reports, informant networks, intercepted communications, and movement analysis. However, gathering reliable intelligence in northeastern Nigeria is quite difficult, as large portions of the region consist of sparsely populated terrain, forest corridors, and isolated settlements with limited communication infrastructure.
But insurgent groups are highly mobile and familiar with local geography, hence they often avoid predictable patterns and deliberately exploit civilian environments to reduce the likelihood of being detected by the military or intelligence agencies.
Analysts say different scenarios could explain how a former civilian market became associated with suspected insurgent activity.
According to them, one of the possibilities is that intelligence sources reported insurgent presence or terrorists’ supply movement linked to the market. Another possibility, they say, is that intelligence surveillance detected suspicious transportation patterns or gatherings interpreted as militant logistics activity.
In conflict environments, distinguishing between civilians, traders, collaborators, and terrorists can be very difficult.
Insurgent groups often use civilian trade systems because they provide access to food, fuel, and transportation without attracting immediate suspicion.
What Led To The Airstrike At Jilli Market
Tobiloba Alade, a counter-insurgency analyst, told Open Africa Tribune that there was confirmed intelligence linking the Jilli to insurgent activities.
He added that there was an earlier attack by terrorists on troops in Benishiek in Borno State, which led to the killing of a senior military personnel, triggering the operation at Jilli market.
Mr Alade said, “Definitely, there was an intelligence report confirming the activity of the terrorists, in fact the military had arrested a terrorist member who participated in the Benishiek and Ngamdu attack, and he provided an actionable intelligence stating that other terrorists were gathering in Jilli for another planned attack.”
The analyst said that while it might be sometimes difficult for the military to distinguish between civilian spaces and militant logistics hubs during its operations, civilians who knowingly operate in terrorist enclaves and trade with terrorists should be regarded as terrorists.
“It is difficult to distinguish civilians because the terrorists use the civilians to carry out their logistics activities. However, personally, I believe a civilian who is found in a terrorist controlled area, not forced, nor conscripted, as long as they are selling and buying to make gains and finance terrorist activity, should be treated as a terrorist,” Mr Alade said.
He, however, said that military airstrikes had hit areas where civilians reside on several occasions, but strikes had always been targeted at the terrorist groups and their collaborators.
He further urged the media to carry out adequate investigation concerning military airstrikes in order not to report fake news.
“Military attacks in the North East are always against the terrorists and their collaborators,” he said
He urged that for accountability sake, there is a need to check for the battle damage assessment and ISR reports, which indicated that terrorists were in the affected area.
Concerning whether the incident reflected a broader operational or intelligence challenge in counterinsurgency efforts, he noted that Nigeria’s security forces have never lacked intelligence, but sometimes experience operational challenges.
“This also confirms what many analysts like myself have been saying, that the military is doing well, but they suffer losses due to collaborators and locals working with terrorists. These are the challenges they face, and when actions are taken against the terrorists’ collaborators, some people defend them by referring to them as fishermen or traders,” he added.
Security Experts Urge Military To Adopt More Precise Targeting Measures
Security experts have also urged the military to adopt more precise targeting measures and strengthen intelligence verification to avoid civilian harm during operations.
Kabir Adamu, the Managing Director of Beacon Security and Intelligence Ltd, said the incident at Jilli Market highlights gaps in ongoing civilian protection measures.
“Another area that requires improvement is in targeting protocols. Here, there is a need for NAF to adopt multi-layered verification for airstrike authorisation. Drills to handle dynamic or ‘fleeting’ targets must emphasise that civilians are never a legitimate target.”
He added that a systemic overhaul of the military’s air campaign is required to address the issue of military attacks on civilian populations.
“This must focus on intelligence, targeting procedures, civilian harm mitigation, accountability, and advanced equipment,” Mr Adamu said, adding, “I know NAF’s ongoing Civilian Harm Mitigation plan is meant to address this challenge of unintended blue on blue killings. However, it is unclear what progress or stage this plan is at.”
He also called for transparency and an immediate investigation into the Jilli market strike, noting that “The Nigerian Air Force should publicly confirm its involvement, clarify the intended target, and detail the sequence of events.”
He also noted that civilian protection mechanisms must be institutionalised across Nigeria’s security architecture.“The other systemic and long-term policy reforms, including the institutionalisation of civilian protection through the full implementation of the Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Board and its Action Plan, ensuring it is well-resourced and has authority across all branches,” he said.
The security expert further urged coordination among key government institutions to standardise civilian protection practices, while emphasising the importance of compliance with both national and international legal frameworks.
Highlighting operational gaps, he called for improved intelligence and training. “The DHQ should pursue comprehensive training and operational reforms. Including advanced Intelligence capabilities in the areas of Human Intelligence, Signals intelligence, and Imagery Intelligence before strikes and avoiding an over-reliance on air power alone without proper intelligence, which is a major risk factor,” he said.
