Amnesty International has strongly condemned a reported military air strike on a market located along the border between Borno State and Yobe State, describing the incident as unlawful and calling for an immediate investigation.
The strike, which reportedly occurred on Saturday at Jilli Market between Gubio and Geidam Local Government Areas, was said to have targeted suspected Boko Haram insurgents operating in the area. However, multiple civilian casualties have been reported.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Amnesty International said eyewitness accounts indicated that three military jets carried out the operation, firing on the busy market and killing more than 100 people.
The organisation added that the emergency unit at Geidam General Hospital had received at least 35 individuals with severe injuries following the incident, raising concerns over the scale of the humanitarian impact.
Condemning the use of air power in a civilian environment, the rights group questioned the legality and proportionality of the operation.
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“Launching air raids is not a legitimate law enforcement method by anyone’s standard,” the statement said, adding that such actions demonstrate a disregard for civilian lives.
Amnesty International further described the strike as “reckless” and “outrageous,” warning that the use of heavy military force in populated areas risks exacerbating civilian harm in conflict zones.
The organisation called on Nigerian authorities to conduct a prompt, independent, and transparent investigation into the incident, with a view to ensuring accountability for any violations of international law.
“The Nigerian authorities must immediately and impartially investigate the incident and ensure that suspected perpetrators are held to account,” the statement added.
The reported strike comes amid ongoing military operations in Nigeria’s North-East, where security forces continue to confront insurgent groups, even as concerns persist over the protection of civilian populations caught in the conflict.