At least 56 people have been reported killed following what has been described as an “accidental” airstrike on a market located along the Borno–Yobe border on Sunday, April 12, 2026, sparking outrage and renewed concerns over civilian safety in Nigeria’s conflict zones.
The incident, which reportedly occurred during a military operation targeting suspected insurgents, has drawn widespread condemnation, with casualty figures varying significantly. While local media sources estimate between 50 and 56 নিহত, some international reports suggest the death toll could be as high as 200, raising fears that the scale of the tragedy may be far greater than initially reported.
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has strongly condemned the airstrike, describing it as one of several “erratic bombings” in recent times and calling for immediate accountability within the military hierarchy.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the group demanded the suspension of all personnel involved in the operation, including the pilots and senior officers who authorized the strike, pending the outcome of a comprehensive investigation.
“This is one accidental bombing too many. It is perhaps the third or fourth of such erratic bombing. It is the height of ineptitude,” MURIC said, questioning the Nigerian Air Force’s intelligence and operational procedures.
The group raised critical concerns over the apparent failure of intelligence gathering, asking whether there was any verified intelligence report prior to the strike and who precisely authorized the mission.
“How will a pilot mistake a market for an assemblage of terrorists? Who gave the order to drop bombs? We need answers. This is atrocious,” the statement added.
MURIC further called on the National Assembly of Nigeria to launch an independent investigation into the incident, stressing that such a probe should not be left solely in the hands of the Nigerian Air Force.
“This is not an investigation that can be trusted to the Air Force alone. We demand accountability,” the group stated.
The Nigerian military has yet to issue an official detailed response on the incident as of press time. However, the latest development adds to growing scrutiny over aerial operations in the North-East, where civilians have previously been caught in the crossfire of counter-insurgency campaigns.
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Security analysts warn that repeated incidents of accidental bombings risk undermining public trust and could complicate ongoing efforts to combat insurgency in the region.
As families mourn and survivors recount their losses, calls for justice and stricter operational oversight continue to mount.
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