Africa
…demands justice and ₦200 billion compensation
THE Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has expressed profound outrage and total condemnation of the recent airstrike by the Nigerian Air Force at Jilli Market along the Borno–Yobe axis, which reportedly killed over 200 innocent civilians, mostly traders, and left many others critically injured.
This incident is not an isolated tragedy, it is part of a disturbing and well-documented pattern of fatal military air operations that have repeatedly claimed civilian lives across Nigeria over the past decade.
HURIWA recalls with pain and concern the following incidents:
March 16, 2014 – Kayamla, Borno State: At least 10 civilians killed in a misfired airstrike targeting insurgents.
January 17, 2017 – Rann, Borno State: Over 100 civilians, including displaced persons and aid workers, killed in a mistaken bombing of an IDP camp.
December 2017 – Adamawa State: At least 35 civilians killed and thousands displaced after erroneous strikes on Shafaron and Nvi communities.
February 28, 2018 – Daglun, Borno State: About 20 civilians killed in another mistaken air operation.
April 11, 2019 – Zamfara State: Several civilians, including children, killed during an air raid targeting bandits.
April 2020 – Sakotoku, Borno State: 17 civilians, mostly women and children, killed during a mistaken strike.
June 2021 – Niger State: Wedding guests and villagers killed in a misdirected bombardment.
September 2021 – Yobe and Borno States: Multiple erroneous strikes killed civilians, including fishermen near Lake Chad.
December 2022 – Zamfara State: 64 civilians killed during an operation targeting armed groups.
January 2023 – Nasarawa State: Over 40 herders killed after being mistaken for bandits.
December 3, 2023 – Tudun Biri, Kaduna State: About 120 civilians killed during a religious gathering hit by a military drone.
2024–2025 (multiple incidents): Civilian casualties recorded in Sokoto and Zamfara States, including vigilantes and villagers wrongly targeted.
These repeated tragedies, spanning over a decade, clearly indicate systemic failures in intelligence gathering, target verification, operational discipline, and accountability within Nigeria’s military operations.
HURIWA states unequivocally that these recurring incidents can no longer be dismissed as mere “accidents.” When such deadly errors become frequent and predictable, they amount to institutional negligence and a grave violation of the right to life.
The Jilli airstrike represents a catastrophic failure of state responsibility and a painful reminder that Nigerian civilians remain vulnerable not only to insurgents but also to the very forces mandated to protect them.
In view of the foregoing, HURIWA demands the following urgent actions:
1. Independent and Public Investigation:
The Federal Government must establish a transparent, civilian-led panel including the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), civil society groups, and independent observers to investigate the incident. Findings must be made public, and those responsible must be prosecuted.
2. ₦200 Billion Compensation:
The Federal Government must immediately pay ₦200 billion in compensation to the victims’ families—calculated at ₦1 billion per victim—and provide full medical care and rehabilitation for survivors.
Affected families are also encouraged to pursue legal redress to enforce their rights.
3. Official Apology and Responsibility:
The military must issue a formal and unreserved apology to the victims’ families and affected communities, acknowledging responsibility where due.
4. Immediate Overhaul of Airstrike Protocols:
There must be a comprehensive review of rules of engagement, including mandatory multi-layer intelligence verification before any strike is authorised, especially in civilian-populated areas.
5. Professional Training and Technological Upgrade:
The Nigerian military must invest in advanced targeting technology, precision-guided systems, and continuous professional training focused on civilian protection and compliance with international humanitarian law.
6. Ethical Reorientation and Accountability:
A culture of discipline, ethical conduct, and command responsibility must be enforced. Officers responsible for operational failures must be held accountable without exception.
7. National Civilian Protection Policy:
The Federal Government should urgently establish a binding national framework on the Protection of Civilians to guide all security operations.
HURIWA warns that failure to decisively address these recurring tragedies will continue to erode public trust, weaken national security efforts, and expose innocent Nigerians to avoidable deaths.
The value of Nigerian lives must never be reduced to statistics or collateral damage.
This must be a turning point.
Never again should such preventable tragedies be allowed to occur.
A.I
April 13, 2026
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