Nigerian military authorities said on Sunday they were investigating reports of civilian casualties after an airstrike hit Jilli market on the Borno-Yobe border.
Reuters reported that a local councillor and residents feared more than 200 people may have been killed. The Associated Press, citing Amnesty International and local sources, said the death toll was above 100..
The Nigerian Air Force in a statement said the strike was carried out during an operation targeting suspected Boko Haram fighters in the Jilli axis, which it described as a terrorist enclave and logistics corridor.
It said the Chief of the Air Staff had ordered the activation of its Civilian Harm Accident and Investigation Cell to carry out a fact-finding mission into allegations that civilians were affected.
Atiku said the strike reflected a serious failure in the protection of civilians during military operations and called for accountability and a review of engagement procedures to prevent a recurrence. In his reaction, he said innocent Nigerians should not continue to bear the cost of operations meant to keep them safe.
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, however, defended the military operation, saying Jilli market had been closed for about five years and had become a notorious hub used by insurgents and their suppliers. He warned residents against aiding Boko Haram and said the area had long been compromised by militant activity.
The Yobe State government also said the area targeted was a Boko Haram stronghold, but acknowledged that civilians were among those affected. It said emergency response teams had been activated following the strike.
The incident has renewed scrutiny of Nigeria’s air campaign in the insurgency-hit northeast, where rights groups say repeated military misfires have killed hundreds of civilians in recent years. Amnesty International has called for an independent investigation into the Jilli strike.
