The military aviation bombed a site held by the Islamic State on Saturday but also frequented by peasants and merchants.
“We wanted to do our best, we did as usual.” This maxim attributed to Russian officers could sadly apply to the Nigerian army. On Saturday, several dozen people, mostly civilians, were killed by military planes in an anti-jihadist operation in the northeast of the country. This region has been facing an Islamic insurgency for over sixteen years by the group Boko Haram, which is still fed by numerous dissenting militias including the powerful Islamic State in West Africa (ISWAP). This war has resulted in a series of civilian deaths, caught in the clashes between violent insurgents and a brutal army, known for its mistakes. But even in this context, the toll is stirring reactions.
According to Issa Sanoussi, Nigeria director of Amnesty International, three to four aircraft opened fire in the middle of the Jili market, a small town in the Yobe state, near Borno state, the epicenter of the Islamist rebellion. “There were raids…”
Context: The article discusses a military airstrike on a site frequented by civilians suspected to be associated with terrorist groups in Nigeria.
Fact Check: The information is attributed to Issa Sanoussi, Nigeria director of Amnesty International.
