A Nigerian Air Force airstrike has reportedly killed dozens of civilians after mistakenly hitting a local market in Yobe State, in the country’s conflict-hit northeast.
According to multiple reports, the strike—carried out on April 11, 2026—was intended to target suspected Boko Haram militants operating in the area.
Read alsoNigerian Navy Arrests Personnel After Clash With Soldiers During Tinubu’s Bayelsa Visit
However, the bombs struck a busy market in Jilli village, resulting in mass civilian casualties, with estimates suggesting that more than 100 people may have been killed and many others injured.
Eyewitness accounts and humanitarian sources indicate that the market was crowded at the time of the attack, including traders, women, and children.
Amnesty International and local officials confirmed the high death toll, describing the incident as one of the deadliest accidental airstrikes in recent years.
Authorities acknowledged the operation but stated that intelligence had identified the location as a militant supply route, where armed groups often gather.
The Nigerian military has since launched an investigation into the incident, amid growing criticism over repeated airstrike errors in the region.
Human rights groups have called for accountability and improved intelligence coordination to prevent civilian harm.
The tragedy highlights the ongoing challenges faced by security forces in combating insurgency in northern Nigeria, where militant groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP continue to operate among civilian populations.
