Nigerian Air Force Strike on Market Kills at Least 100 Civilians in Yobe State

A Nigerian Air Force strike intended for jihadi rebels hit a market in Yobe state, northeastern Nigeria, on April 12, 2026, killing at least 100 civilians, including children, and injuring many others. Amnesty International reported the death toll based on accounts from survivors and hospital staff.

Local media and rights groups corroborated the incident, which took place near the border with Borno state.

Officials confirmed that a misfire occurred during the operation but provided no further details. The Yobe State Government stated that the strike targeted a Boko Haram stronghold near the Jilli weekly market, affecting some marketers. The Yobe State Emergency Management Agency dispatched response teams to the area after acknowledging casualties.

Incident Details and Casualties Amnesty International's Nigeria director, Isa Sanusi, said the organization had pictures of the casualties, which included children.

Sanusi told the Associated Press that staff spoke with hospital personnel and victims in the area. A worker at Geidam General Hospital in Yobe reported that at least 23 injured people were receiving treatment there. The market, located in a remote area near the Borno-Yobe border, is frequently used by Boko Haram members to purchase food supplies.

A member of a civilian security group, Abdulmumin Bulama, stated that intelligence indicated Boko Haram terrorists had gathered close to the market and planned attacks on nearby communities. The information was shared with the military, leading to the airstrike.

Military Response and Context Nigeria's military issued a statement describing the operation as a successful strike on a terrorist enclave and logistics hub, where scores of jihadis were killed while riding motorcycles.

The statement noted that motorcycles are prohibited in conflict zones and that such movements are treated seriously. It did not address the misfire or civilian casualties directly. Such incidents are common in Nigeria's military campaigns against armed groups controlling forest enclaves.

Security analysts have identified issues in intelligence gathering and coordination between ground troops and air assets as contributing factors.