Amnesty International has called for an immediate and impartial investigation into the military air strikes that reportedly killed dozens of people at Jilli Market near Fuchimiram Village in Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe State.
“The Nigerian authorities must immediately and impartially investigate the incident and ensure that suspected perpetrators are held to account,” the organisation stated in a post shared on its X account.
While condemning the incident, the group alleged that over 100 people were killed, while the emergency unit of Geidam General Hospital has so far received 35 people with severe injuries.
“Witnesses said three military jets fired on the market yesterday. Emergency section of Geidam General Hospital had so far received 35 people with severe injuries.
“Launching air raids is not a legitimate law enforcement method by anyone’s standard. Such reckless use of deadly force is unlawful, outrageous, and lays bare the Nigerian military’s shocking disregard for the lives of those it supposedly exists to protect,” it added.
Deadly Air Strikes
Several persons were reportedly killed while others sustained injuries following air strikes on a market located in a border community near Damasak in Borno State, about 200 kilometres from Damaturu, the Yobe State capital.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attack happened while traders were going about their normal business activities in the market.
Another local source claimed that a military fighter jet had been tracking suspected Boko Haram insurgents in the area, who were allegedly moving through the market to collect levies from residents before the incident occurred.
An eyewitness who visited Geidam Specialist Hospital and shared images with Channels Television said many victims were receiving emergency treatment, adding that the hospital’s accident and emergency unit had been overwhelmed due to a steady influx of injured persons.
NAF Begins Probe
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said it has commenced an investigation into allegations of civilian casualties during the operation around the market.
In a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information at Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the service said it “treats all reports of possible civilian harm with the utmost seriousness and empathy”.
“In line with this commitment, the CAS has directed an immediate activation of the Civilian Harm Accident and Investigation Cell (CHAI-Cell) to immediately proceed to the location on a fact-finding mission on the allegation,” the statement read.
The Nigerian Air Force had earlier confirmed mop-up air strikes in the Jilli axis but did not state whether any civilian casualties were recorded.