Nigerian airstrikes repeatedly miss targets in anti-insurgency operations, kills 200

A recent airstrike on a village market in northeastern Nigeria, where more than 200 people are feared dead, is the latest in a troubling pattern of military operations that have resulted in civilian casualties.

The strike, which occurred over the weekend, reportedly targeted suspected Islamist militants but instead hit a populated market, according to local officials and residents. Victims were later seen receiving treatment in hospitals in Maiduguri, a region that has long been at the centre of Nigeria’s insurgency crisis.

While the military has yet to release a full account of the incident, the scale of casualties has reignited concerns over targeting accuracy and operational safeguards in aerial campaigns.

This is not an isolated case.

A pattern of deadly errors in military air campaigns

Over the past three years, multiple airstrikes conducted by the Nigerian military have mistakenly hit civilian populations while pursuing armed groups.

In January 2025, an operation targeting bandits in the northwest reportedly killed at least 15 civilians, including local vigilantes. Months earlier, in December 2024, a strike in Sokoto State aimed at a militant hideout resulted in 10 civilian deaths due to what the military described as secondary explosions.

Similar incidents have been recorded across the country. In September 2024, at least 24 people were killed in Kaduna State during an operation against armed gangs, while an April 2024 strike in Zamfara State claimed over 30 lives during the Eid period.

One of the deadliest cases occurred in December 2023, when a military drone strike in Kaduna killed at least 85 people, including women and children. The incident triggered national outrage and led to a court-martial for two officers after an investigation ordered by Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

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Even earlier, in January 2023, dozens of Fulani herders were killed in Nasarawa State in a bombing later acknowledged by the Nigerian Air Force.

Taken together, these incidents point to a recurring challenge: how to balance aggressive counter-insurgency operations with the protection of civilian lives.

As Nigeria continues its fight against insurgency and banditry, the growing list of accidental strikes raises urgent questions about intelligence accuracy, rules of engagement, and accountability within military operations.