A Nigerian air force strike targeting jihadist rebels hit a market in north-east Nigeria, killing more than 100 people and injuring many others, Amnesty International and local media have said.

Officials Confirm Misfire Without Details

Officials confirmed a misfire had occurred but did not provide details. The incident took place in a village in Yobe state near the border with Borno state, which has been the epicenter of the jihadist insurgency for over a decade.

Amnesty International Confirms Casualties

Amnesty International said it confirmed from survivors that at least 100 people had been killed in the airstrike; the organization spoke with hospital staff, the person in charge of casualties, and victims themselves to verify the figures.

History of Civilian Deaths in Air Raids

The Nigerian military often conducts air raids to battle armed groups who use vast forest enclaves; According to an Associated Press tally of reported deaths, these operations have killed at least 500 civilians since 2017.

Security analysts have pointed to loopholes in intelligence gathering, as well as insufficient coordination between ground troops, air assets and groups; these issues have raised concerns about the effectiveness and safety of military operations in the region.

The Yobe state government confirmed in a statement that a Nigerian military strike had targeted a stronghold of the Boko Haram jihadist group in the area. The government said that “some people … who went to the Jilli weekly market were affected.”

Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International’s Nigeria director, said: “We are in touch with people that are there; we spoke with the hospital — we spoke with the person in charge of casualties and we spoke with the victims.”

The Nigerian air force did not immediately respond to inquiries, while the incident has sparked renewed calls for greater transparency and accountability in military operations targeting jihadist groups.

Local media and human rights groups have urged the government to investigate the incident thoroughly and to take steps to prevent such tragedies in the future. They have also called for better coordination between military and civilian authorities to ensure that air strikes do not harm innocent civilians.

The Nigerian military has faced criticism in the past for civilian casualties during air raids; this latest incident has added to the concerns of human rights organizations and local communities affected by the ongoing conflict.

Residents of the affected area have expressed shock and anger over the strike, describing it as a tragic loss of life — many have called for an independent investigation to determine the cause of the misfire and to hold those responsible accountable.

Amnesty International has reiterated its call for the Nigerian government to take immediate action to address the issues of civilian deaths in military operations. The organization has also urged the government to improve intelligence gathering and coordination between military and civilian authorities to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.

As the situation continues to unfold, the international community is watching closely to see how the Nigerian government will respond to the incident and what steps it will take to ensure the safety of civilians in future military operations.