FG Defends Borno Airstrike As Targeted Anti-terror Operation, NHRC Demands Probe Into Yobe Strike

FG defends Borno airstrike as targeted anti-terror operation, NHRC demands probe into Yobe strike The Federal Government has defended a recent Nigerian Air Force airstrike in the Jilli axis of Borno State, insisting it was a carefully planned counter-terrorism operation aimed at disrupting insurgents’ supply routes and logistics networks, even as controversy continues over a separate deadly strike in neighbouring Yobe State. The government also pledged support for families of fallen security personnel, while the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) called for an independent investigation into the Yobe market airstrike that reportedly killed dozens of civilians. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the Jilli airstrike was based on credible intelligence and executed by the Nigerian Air Force under Operation Hadin Kai.He explained that the targeted area had long been identified as a stronghold used by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters for coordination, movement, and logistics support. According to him, the strike was not indiscriminate but a “deliberate, intelligence-led operation” aimed at weakening terrorist capabilities and disrupting their supply chain. The government maintained that the location had been classified as a high-risk insurgent corridor, adding that military operations in such areas are guided by surveillance and intelligence assessment While the Federal Government acknowledged reports of civilian casualties linked to recent military operations in the northeast, it expressed sympathy with affected families and reiterated that all Nigerian lives are valuable. Security analysts and humanitarian observers have repeatedly warned that insurgent-controlled or contested areas in the region often make it difficult to clearly distinguish between militants and civilians during air operations. In a separate development, the NHRC called for a full investigation into a deadly airstrike on a market in Yobe State, near the Borno border, which reportedly killed many civilians.The Commission insisted that the probe must be transparent and independent, warning against leaving investigations solely to the military. It also called for the inclusion of civil society representatives, lawmakers, and affected community members in the investigative process to ensure accountability and public trust. The Federal Government also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting families of military and police personnel killed in recent attacks, including in Kebbi State.Vice President Kashim Shettima reiterated that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would not abandon the families of fallen heroes, stressing that their sacrifices for national security would be honoured The twin developments highlight rising scrutiny over military air operations in Nigeria’s northeast, where a long-running insurgency involving Boko Haram and ISWAP has led to repeated civilian harm allegations.

Authorities say investigations are ongoing into the Yobe incident, while maintaining that counter-terrorism operations remain essential to degrading insurgent networks operating across the region.