Nigerian military airstrikes have killed over 600 civilians across conflict-ridden states in northern Nigeria as security forces intensify operations against insurgents and bandits in over a decade, WikkiTimes reports.
The recurring incidents which is often described by authorities as “mistakes” or based on faulty intelligence have raised concerns about intelligence accuracy and precision strikes in the counterinsurgency operations.
The latest occurred on 11 April 2026, when a military airstrike reportedly hit Jilli Market on the Yobe–Borno border, which killed between 100 and 200 people and injured many others. While official figures put the death toll at fewer than 100, residents said it exceeded that number, with some estimating as many as 200 fatalities. If confirmed, it would rank among the deadliest airstrike incidents in Nigeria.
The incident adds to a growing list of airstrikes in which civilians were killed under controversial circumstances.
On 12 January 2025, at least 20 civilians were killed in Tunga Kara village in Zamfara State after they were reportedly mistaken for bandits. Similarly, on 25 December 2024, an airstrike in villages near Silame in Sokoto State left at least 10 civilians dead.
In Kaduna State, one of the most widely reported incidents occurred on 3 December 2023, when a drone strike hit Tudun Biri village, killing at least 85 people—many of them women and children attending a religious gathering—and injuring more than 60 others. The military later attributed the strike to faulty intelligence.
Earlier, on 23 January 2023, an airstrike in Rukubi Community, Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, killed at least 37 civilians.
Other incidents in recent years highlight the persistence of the problem. On 17 December 2022, at least 64 people were killed in Mutumji, Zamfara State, in another airstrike. In September 2021, two separate incidents were recorded: an airstrike on 26 September hit a fish market in Kwatar Daban Masara, Borno State, killing about 60 people, while another strike on 16 September in Buhari community, Yobe State, left 12 people dead.
Earlier incidents include a February 28, 2018 airstrike in Daglun, Borno State, where about 20 people were killed. In 2019, at least 13 people were killed in Gajigana, Borno State, on 2 July, while six others died in April in Tangaram and Ajia communities in Zamfara State.
In April 2020, multiple strikes in Borno State resulted in significant casualties, including 17 people killed in Sakotoku village and about 30 others in Mainok.
The pattern dates back even further. In January 2017, a military jet bombed a displaced persons camp in Rann, Borno State, killing at least 112 civilians despite the camp housing thousands of people displaced by insurgency. Earlier, on 16 March 2014, an airstrike in Kayala, Borno State, reportedly killed 10 people.
Across the incidents, victims have largely been non-combatants, including traders, farmers, worshippers and internally displaced persons. In some cases, local vigilantes have also been affected after being misidentified as armed groups.
Security experts say the recurrence of such incidents points to lapses in intelligence gathering, target verification and operational safeguards, particularly in rural areas where civilian populations and armed groups often share proximity.
The repeated strikes have also raised broader concerns about compliance with international humanitarian law, which requires strict measures to protect civilians during military operations.
Beyond the immediate casualties, analysts warn that the incidents risk undermining public confidence in the military and weakening cooperation from local communities, which is critical to counterinsurgency efforts.
Despite public outrage following several of the attacks, there has been limited information on the outcomes of investigations or whether any personnel have been held accountable.
With the cumulative death toll running into hundreds over the years, calls are growing for transparent investigations, improved intelligence systems and stricter operational controls to prevent further civilian casualties.
The Nigerian military has yet to provide a comprehensive response addressing the recurring nature of these incidents.
