The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has commenced a high-level investigation into reports of civilian casualties following a weekend air strike in the Jilli axis, located along the border of Borno and Yobe States.

In a statement released on Sunday by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the NAF confirmed it has activated its internal probe mechanisms to verify claims that non-combatants were affected during an operation targeting a major terrorist logistics hub. The military emphasized that it takes such reports with “utmost seriousness and empathy,” maintaining that protecting innocent lives is central to its mandate.

The incident occurred on Saturday, April 11, 2026, when the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI executed precision strikes on what intelligence had identified as a critical enclave for Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgents. However, local sources and community leaders reported that the bombardment may have struck a busy market in Jilli while traders were conducting their weekly business. According to Lawan Zannah, a local councillor, the aftermath has been devastating, with several residents feared dead and numerous others rushed to hospitals in Geidam and Damaturu for emergency medical treatment.

International and domestic human rights organizations have quickly called for transparency regarding the mission. Amnesty International issued a statement urging the Nigerian authorities to conduct an impartial and swift investigation, questioning the use of heavy air power in areas where civilians and combatants are closely intermingled. Preliminary reports from eyewitnesses suggest that while insurgents were allegedly present in the market area to collect “levies” from traders, the resulting air strikes caused significant damage to civilian infrastructure and resulted in a high number of unintended casualties.

In its defense, the NAF reiterated that the mission was based on credible Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) data which indicated the location was a hub for ammunition and fuel storage. Military officials stated that the strike was intended to decapitate the insurgents’ ability to launch guerrilla attacks on nearby military positions. Despite the tactical success against the enclave, the NAF leadership, under the Chief of the Air Staff, has vowed to “get to the bottom” of the civilian harm allegations to ensure accountability and to refine future operational protocols to prevent a recurrence.

As the investigation team deploys to the site, the North-East region remains on high alert. The Borno and Yobe State governments have expressed their condolences to the families of those affected and are reportedly coordinating with the military to provide medical assistance to survivors. The outcome of the NAF’s probe is expected to be made public, as the administration faces mounting pressure to balance aggressive counter-insurgency tactics with the strict protection of human rights in the volatile Lake Chad region.