National Editor
On Apr. 11, a Nigerian Air Force operation aimed at jihadist militants reportedly struck a local market in northeastern Nigeria, killing more than 100 civilians and injuring many others, according to a civil rights group and local media on Sunday. Incidents like the airstrike are not unusual in Nigeria, where the military frequently carries out airstrikes against armed groups. According to an Associated Press tally of reported cases, these operations have resulted in the deaths of at least 500 civilians since 2017. Security experts attribute these tragedies to weaknesses in intelligence collection, as well as poor coordination between ground forces, air units, and other key factors.
The airstrike occurred near a large, remote market along the Borno-Yobe border, an area where Boko Haram fighters reside and visit to purchase food and supplies. Abdulmumin Bulama, who works with a civilian security group supporting the Nigerian military in the northeast, said intelligence had indicated that Boko Haram militants were assembling close to the market and were allegedly preparing an attack on surrounding villages. He explained that the Air Force carried out the strike based on what was considered credible.
In a statement, the Yobe State Government confirmed that the military operation was aimed at a Boko Haram stronghold in the region. The Yobe State Emergency Management Agency acknowledged the incident and noted that it had led to casualties. The agency added that after the airstrike, they had deployed emergency response teams while urging residents to stay calm. Amnesty International Nigeria’s director, Isa Sanusi, told The Associated Press that the organization was in contact with local sources, hospitals, and officials responsible for casualty reports, as well as with victims and those on the ground.
Moreover, the Nigerian military described the operation as a successful strike against a “terrorist enclave and logistics hub.” The military claimed that several militants were killed as they moved on motorcycles.
Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation, yet continues to face a complex security crisis, particularly in its northern regions, due to a long-running insurgency that persists alongside multiple armed groups involved in kidnappings for ransom. The main groups include Boko Haram and a breakaway group that joined with the Islamic State and is now called Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). There is also another group linked to the Islamic State called Lakurawa, which is active in northwestern Nigeria near the border with Niger.
(Sources: BBC, NBC, Reuters, The Guardian)
Categories: World