The strikes hit the village of Jilli on Saturday, with casualty figures varying widely. A UN security report seen by AFP said at least 56 people were killed and 14 injured when Nigerian Air Force fighter jets carried out the operation targeting suspected militants.

Amnesty International said more than 100 people were killed and 35 seriously wounded, while local chief Lawan Zanna Nur estimated total casualties, including injured, at around 200. A market committee member, Bulama Mulima Abbas, said 36 bodies had been counted at the scene, describing the victims as traders.

The Nigerian military said it had conducted a “precision air strike” on a known militant enclave and logistics hub near Jilli, reporting that “scores of terrorists” were killed but making no reference to civilian casualties.

In a separate statement, the air force said it had launched an investigation into reports that the strike may have hit a local market, causing civilian deaths.

Nigeria has faced repeated incidents of civilian casualties during air operations against insurgents, including fighters from Boko Haram and its splinter faction Islamic State West Africa Province, which have waged an insurgency since 2009.

Recent cases include a January 2025 airstrike in Zamfara state that killed at least 16 people after vigilantes were mistaken for armed groups, and a December 2023 strike in Kaduna state that killed at least 85 people when a religious gathering was misidentified as militants.

Violence has intensified in recent months, with more than 100 people killed across northern Nigeria in the past 10 days in attacks attributed to both insurgents and criminal gangs, according to local accounts.The security situation has drawn international scrutiny, including from Donald Trump, whose administration has pressed Nigeria to intensify its campaign against militant groups.

The United States has also deployed about 200 troops to provide technical and training support to Nigerian forces.

Nigeria’s government has stepped up legal action against suspected militants, with Justice Minister Lateef Fagbemi saying authorities had prosecuted 508 cases and secured nearly 386 convictions in mass terrorism trials.

Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, the theatre commander of Operation Hadin Kai, disclosed that foreign mercenaries, including those from Pakistan, are contributing to a dangerous shift in the operational capabilities of terror groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Speaking during a media tour in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, Abubakar warned that these foreign actors are arming and training local terrorist factions, resulting in more sophisticated and deadly attacks on Nigerian forces.

“The infiltration of foreign mercenaries in the joint operations area has significantly escalated the threat posed by terrorist groups like ISWAP and Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS),” Abubakar told reporters, as quoted by The Cable.

According to military sources, the four Pakistani nationals were detained over suspected links to terrorism and arms smuggling. Their arrests underscore the growing international dimension of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism challenge.

“These individuals were allegedly involved in supplying arms to terrorist groups,” Abubakar revealed, warning that this external support is enabling jihadist groups to adapt modern battlefield tactics.

Among the enhanced tactics observed are the use of drones for surveillance and attacks, production of advanced improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and the laying of strategic ambushes designed to inflict maximum casualties on troops.

Abubakar noted that beyond providing weaponry, the foreign mercenaries are delivering both strategic and tactical training, allowing insurgents to conduct more coordinated and lethal operations. “The growing influence of these mercenaries is evident in the terrorists’ increased sophistication, leading to higher troop casualties and significant equipment losses,” he stated.

He further warned that Nigeria’s fight is no longer against local insurgents alone but against a transnational terror network that is receiving material and strategic support from external actors.

The commander emphasized the urgency of a coordinated regional response, calling for enhanced intelligence-sharing, surveillance, and tighter cross-border security cooperation with neighboring countries.

“Boko Haram and ISWAP are not just fighting our armed forces; they are waging war against Nigeria itself,” Abubakar asserted.

Northern Nigeria has been plagued by insurgency for over a decade, but the involvement of foreign mercenaries—particularly from regions like Pakistan—marks a disturbing evolution in the conflict, demanding swift and unified international action.