Opposition Parties Condemn Surge in Accidental Airstrikes Following Tragic Jilli Market Bombing

ADC and AAC demand investigations after a Nigerian Air Force strike reportedly killed 200 at Jilli market, citing 19 such accidental bombings since 2017.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 13, 2026, 9:34 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Peoples Gazette

Opposition Voices Demand Immediate Military Accountability

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the African Action Congress (AAC) have publicly condemned the Nigerian Air Force following a devastating weekend airstrike in the Borno and Yobe regions. Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesperson for the ADC, described the repeated occurrence of these incidents as tragic and unfortunate. The parties are calling for a definitive investigation to determine if these recurring strikes are genuine technical errors or represent a deeper failure in military targeting protocols.

Jilli Market Strike Leaves Hundreds Dead

The latest outcry follows reports of a massive airstrike on the Jilli market this past Saturday, which allegedly claimed the lives of 200 people. This incident has intensified fears that the civilian population is becoming increasingly caught between the violence of bandits and the firepower of the state. Abdullahi emphasized that the Nigerian legislature must intervene by setting up a committee to ensure that citizens do not have to live in fear of their own armed forces.

Historical Pattern of Accidental Civilian Bombings

According to the AAC, Nigeria has witnessed no fewer than 19 accidental airstrikes on civilian populations since 2017 under the current administration. Rex Elanu, the AAC spokesperson, labeled the continued trend as unacceptable, highlighting that while terrorists continue to operate with ease, the state’s firepower is frequently misdirected toward defenseless communities. The party argued that the frequency of these "mistakes" has become an almost routine part of the security landscape.