Nigeria seeks used German H145M military helicopters and support on Sahel security

Diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Germany have reached a 65 years’ milestone, marked by a recent strategic dialogue between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. During a ten-minute telephone conversation on the afternoon of Wednesday, February 18, 2026, the two leaders addressed a multifaceted agenda covering regional security, energy infrastructure, and cultural exchange. A central focus of this discussion was a request from the Nigerian presidency for the transfer of used military helicopters to bolster Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities within the volatile Sahel corridor.

Strengthening Aerial Reconnaissance in the Sahel

President Tinubu emphasized the deteriorating security environment in the Sahel, noting that instability is increasingly moving toward the coastal states of West Africa. To counter this threat, Nigeria is seeking to acquire used Airbus H145M helicopters from German military inventory. These aircraft would serve as a specialized platform for intelligence reconnaissance, providing a necessary eye in the sky over porous borders and rugged terrain. The H145M is a light twin engine helicopter known for its agility and relatively low acoustic signature, making it an effective choice for covert surveillance and tactical support roles.

The H145M features the Helionix avionics suite and a four axis autopilot, which reduces pilot workload during complex ISR missions. Its performance in high altitude and hot environments is particularly relevant for the Sahel, where temperatures often exceed 40 degrees Celsius. While the German government has not yet formally confirmed the transfer, the Bundeswehr (the German armed forces) has been transitioning its rotary wing fleet. The potential availability of these assets stems from Germany’s ongoing modernization programs, which involve the phased replacement of older light utility units with newer configurations. By utilizing used airframes, Nigeria could potentially shorten the procurement timeline and reduce the capital expenditure required to expand its aerial surveillance fleet.

The request for German aviation support comes at a time of profound transition in Sahelian security architecture. For several years, European partners have modified their engagement in the region. In August 2021, the French Army deployed 32 Griffon armored vehicles to the Sahel as part of the 3rd Marine Infantry Regiment to combat insurgent groups. However, geopolitical shifts led the European Union to end some of its military training commitments in Mali by April 2022, primarily due to the presence of private military contractors and the political direction of the local administration. Despite these withdrawals, the European Union remains vocal about its commitment to the region, with officials stating that the Sahel remains a priority for international stability. During that period, the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) had sent five of its CH-53G Super Stallion heavy-lift helicopters and an additional 120 personnel to Gao, Mali to support the United Nations mission (MINUSMA).

The German military (Bundeswehr) utilizes the Airbus H145M as a highly versatile, multi-role light twin-engine helicopter. Formally designated in German service as the Leichter Kampfhubschrauber (LKH or Light Combat Helicopter), it serves as a flexible platform bridging tactical transport, special operations, and armed reconnaissance.

Nigeria’s proactive stance in requesting German assets demonstrates a regional push to fill the security vacuum left by departing international missions. Effective ISR operations are critical because insurgent movements in the Sahel rely on mobility and the exploitation of ungoverned spaces. Without persistent aerial oversight, ground forces often remain reactive. The H145M could bridge this gap by providing real time data to commanders, allowing for more precise deployments of ground units and a more effective response to cross border incursions.

Revitalizing the Presidential Power Initiative

Beyond defense cooperation, the dialogue between Tinubu and Merz addressed the long standing challenges within Nigeria’s energy sector. The Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) is a centerpiece of this effort, aiming to modernize the national grid through a $2.3 billion partnership with Siemens. Although the agreement was established in 2019, it has faced numerous regulatory and logistical hurdles. The original roadmap envisioned achieving 7,000 megawatts of reliable power by 2021 and 11,000 megawatts by 2023, targets that remain unfulfilled.

Chancellor Merz assured President Tinubu that Siemens would fulfill its commitments to rehabilitate transmission lines and distribution substations. Financing remains a critical component of this infrastructure push, with Deutsche Bank ready to provide the necessary capital. In late 2021, the Nigerian Federal Executive Council approved €62.9 million and $1.9 million for the initial phase of the project, focusing on grid expansion and modernization. While President Tinubu noted in late 2025 that progress had been made, he acknowledged that the pace of implementation has not yet met the expectations of the Nigerian public. The renewed commitment from Berlin suggests a diplomatic push to clear the remaining bottlenecks and stabilize Nigeria’s electricity supply, which is a prerequisite for broader industrial growth.

Cultural Diplomacy and the New Ambassador

The conversation also touched upon the “soft power” aspects of the bilateral relationship. Chancellor Merz expressed a desire to establish the Great Museum of African Arts, a project intended to foster deeper cultural understanding and academic cooperation. This initiative aligns with broader efforts to preserve and showcase African heritage on a global stage. The German government is also awaiting the arrival of the new Nigerian ambassador to Berlin, a move expected to further streamline communication between the two administrations.

This multifaceted approach to diplomacy suggests that Germany views Nigeria as a pivotal partner not just for regional security, but as a long term economic and cultural collaborator in West Africa. The success of the helicopter request and the Siemens power project will likely serve as the primary metrics for the strength of this partnership in the coming years. By integrating military hardware, infrastructure engineering, and cultural exchange, both nations are attempting to build a resilient framework for cooperation in an increasingly complex global landscape.

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Nigeria Military Issues Security Alert Ahead of Eid-el-Kabir Celebrations

Nigerian military has warned of possibility of attacks by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on civilian targets using suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices during next Wednesday’s Eid-el-Kabir celebrations across the North East.

The Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) gave the warning in a security advisory ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration on Monday in Maiduguri.

In the security advisory signed by its spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) said the terrorists may target areas of high population concentration during the celebrations.

But the Theatre Command assured the public that these threats have been thoroughly anticipated, hence, troops have been forward deployed to critical and vulnerable locations across all sectors of the Theatre ahead of the celebrations.

It also assured that surveillance and ISR assets have been fully activated, patrols have been intensified, and security forces are operating in close coordination with sister agencies, the CJTF, and community vigilance groups to forestall any threat and guarantee a secure festive period for all residents.

The Theatre Command also listed security guidance that members of the public should observe in the days leading up to and throughout the celebrations

The secirity guidance include conduct of Eid prayers and festivities as close to their homes and familiar localities as possible, avoiding large open gatherings where practicable while exercing heightened vigilance in crowded public spaces such as markets, motor parks, banking halls, and prayer grounds.

The Command also urged members of the public to report any suspicious persons, unattended objects, or unusual movements to the nearest military checkpoint, police station, or civil-military liaison point immediately and to cooperate fully with security personnel during patrols and screening operations.

In addition, members of the public are advised to avoid unnecessary movement, particularly at night or in areas with limited security presence.

The Command also urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information or rumours capable of causing public panic and instead, rely on official information from verified government and security channels.

“The Theatre Command calls on traditional rulers, religious leaders, media organisations and community stakeholders to actively engage their communities and encourage the timely reporting of credible security information ahead of and during the celebration period. Your cooperation with security forces remains invaluable to the success of ongoing operations.

“Operation HADIN KAI reassures all residents of the North East that troops are on standby, fully prepared, and firmly in control. The Command remains resolute in its determination to deny terrorists any freedom of action and ensure that the Eid El Kabir celebrations proceed in an atmosphere of peace, safety, and dignity for all. The Theatre Command wishes the entire Muslim community a peaceful and rewarding Eid El Kabir celebration,” the statement concluded.

By Ayorinde Oluokun, PM News

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Pushback in Nigeria over ex-Boko Haram fighter reintegration

Communities in Nigeria's northeast, particularly in Borno state, are grappling with a difficult question: Can those who once took up arms against them truly return and be accepted?

Nigerian officials hope to reintegrate more than 700 former Boko Haram fighters into civilian life under its deradicalization program, Operation Safe Corridor. Authorities say the initiative is key to ending a decade-long conflict. But in communities that have borne the brunt of extremist violence, the policy is reopening wounds that have yet to heal.

The program has been running for years, but each new wave of reintegration continues to spark debate.

What is Nigeria's Operation Safe Corridor?

Operation Safe Corridor, launched in 2016, is Nigeria's deradicalization program for former Boko Haram fighters who surrender to the military.

Authorities say it is aimed at encouraging defections and reducing recruitment. Participants undergo screening, deradicalization, psychological counselling and vocational training before being cleared for reintegration.

Over 2,000 individuals have passed through the initiative, according to Nigerian authorities. Officials say only those assessed as "low risk" are released back into society.

Usman Tar, former commissioner for information and internal security in Borno state, which this year saw renewed a violence, told local media: "When they return, there is a screening by the Department of State Services and they're screened by the community leaders."

Authorities say the scheme is working.

"We did not receive any negative report from anybody from any one of them," Abdullahi Sabi Ishaq, special assistant on security to the Borno state government, told local media.

"They were accepted by the community, and we hope this one will also be accepted."

Concerns for violence-weary Nigerian communities

But on the ground, acceptance is far from guaranteed.

In Borno state, some residents like Muhammad Sharif told DW the idea of living alongside former fighters is very unsettling. He suggests former fighters should be relocated away from communities they once attacked and describes the arrangement as "improper."

"If you forgive somebody and you want to integrate him, take him to another local government where the offended people will not see that person at their midst. They will not bring us peace," he told DW.

Abraham Philip said communities are still dealing from trauma, even as the government pushes ahead with the program.

"Yes, peace is taking place also but destruction is also taking place," he told DW, referencing recent attacks, including the Monday Market, the post office and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) bomb blast in Maiduguri.

Philip says communities have questions for the government, because "a lot of things have been happening. There are some people saying these are the results of the reintegration that has been taking place."

Could reintegrated Boko Haram members relapse?

Others say the issue is not just about reintegration — but whether former fighters have truly changed. For Maiduguri resident Usman Abubakar, the distinction between theory and reality is key.

"In principle, it is a very good idea," he said.

But he adds: "We have had instances where repentant Boko Haram threatened to go back to the bushes when the promises the state government made to them were not fulfilled. That is why I don't want to call them repentant. I want to call them surrendered because you cannot see their mind."

Some Nigerians outside the conflict-affected northeast also remain divided. In Abuja, civil servant Hauwa Ajeje told DW: "It's going to be a vicious cycle. We'll be recycling the same individuals."

Raphael Ogbaji, a student at the University of Abuja, had a more optimistic take: "If they have chosen the path of peace and the path of repentance, why not give them the benefit of the doubt? Every human being can change."

Nigerians debate over justice for Boko Haram survivors

Lawyer Ahmed Abubakar told DW reintegration raises serious questions about justice for victims.

"Those that have been affected negatively by the activities of these terrorists, they need restitution," he said, questioning why former fighters are being rehabilitated while many victims are still displaced.

"Some of the victims are still staying in Internally Displaced People's camps. Some have lost their homes and are not getting any form of justice," he said.

While Abubaker acknowledges that international law allows reintegration, he says state authorities have not been clear about who is being reintegrated or their level of involvement in extremist violence.

By Chinaza Samuel, DW

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Nigeria bets on deradicalization program in North West

Nigerian army says joint US strikes kill 175 ISIL fighters in country’s northeast

Nigerian forces working with the United ⁠States claim to have ⁠killed 175 ISIL (ISIS) fighters in a series of joint strikes in ⁠the country’s northeast in recent days.

The Nigerian Defence Headquarters said on Tuesday that operations conducted with the US military’s ⁠Africa Command (AFRICOM) destroyed checkpoints, weapons caches, logistics hubs, military equipment and financing networks used by ISIL and the ISIL affiliate in West Africa Province (ISWAP), which has led a years-long struggle in the region.

“As of 19 May 2026, assessments ⁠indicate that 175 ISIS terrorists have ⁠been eliminated from the battlefield,” Nigerian Defence Headquarters spokesperson Major-General Samaila Uba said in a statement.

“The joint strikes have further reinforced what the Armed Forces of Nigeria have consistently done over the years – hunt down and kill terrorists anywhere they are in Nigeria,” Uba said.

The announcement comes after AFRICOM said it had carried out attacks on Sunday in coordination with the Nigerian government. It also follows Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reporting that Abu Bilal al-Minuki, described as ISIL’s second-in-command and also known as Abu-Mainok, was killed along with “several of his lieutenants” in a joint Nigeria-US strike.

The Nigerian Army said al-Minuki oversaw key ISIL operations in the Sahel and West African region.

After the announcement of al-Minuki’s death, Tinubu thanked US President Donald Trump in a post on social media for his “leadership and unwavering support”.

“I commend the personnel involved on both sides for their professionalism and courage, and I look forward to more decisive strikes against all terrorist enclaves across the nation,” Tinubu said.

The Nigerian military on Tuesday also reported the killing of another senior fighter, Abd-al Wahhab, who it said was responsible for coordinating attack planning and propaganda for ISWAP, as well as two senior ISWAP members, identified as Abu Musa al-Mangawi and Abu al-Muthanna al-Muhajir.

Since suffering ‌major setbacks in the Middle East, ISIL has pivoted towards Africa, which accounted for 86 percent of the group’s global activity in the first three months of 2026, according to crisis monitoring group Armed Conflict Location & Event Data.

The US announced it had sent troops to Nigeria in February, in what was deemed a mostly advisory and training role, but the joint operations reported in recent days appear to signal a more active US involvement in the country.

Al Jazeera

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US., Nigerian forces kill top Islamic State leader

U.S. and Nigerian forces killed Islamic State’s alleged No. 2, a man linked to terrorist attacks against religious minorities and the mass kidnapping of schoolchildren, officials said.

Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Ali al-Mainuki guided Islamic State “on matters relating to media operations, economic warfare and the development and manufacturing of weapons, explosives and drones,” Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba, spokesman for Nigeria’s armed forces, said in a release Saturday.

Al-Mainuki, born in Nigeria in 1982, had also led Islamic State fundraising operations, according to a United Nations report issued last year.

The operation that killed him, which took place in the Lake Chad Basin in northeastern Nigeria, was “a major breakthrough in ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism” regionally and globally, Uba said.

The U.S. and its allies have for years been killing top leaders of Islamic State and al Qaeda. Officials recognize that new militants step up to take their places, but argue that repeated decapitation blows weaken insurgents’ ability to plan, finance and carry out attacks.

Officials were vague about the role played by each country’s troops in this week’s Nigeria operation, which, according to a U.S. official, included both a ground assault and airstrikes. The U.S. has far greater air-attack capabilities than does Nigeria, and the Pentagon released a video of what appeared to be a devastating strike on an Islamic State position.

President Trump said in a social-media post that “brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and very complex mission.” Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said the operation also killed several al-Mainuki lieutenants.

Since establishing a short-lived caliphate in Syria and Iraq in the 2010s, Islamic State has increasingly focused operations in Africa, from the arid expanses of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger in the west to Somalia in the east. Defense officials believe a Somali, Abdul Qadir Mumin, is now the group’s global leader.

The U.N. reported last year that there were some 8,000 to 12,000 fighters in Islamic State ranks in West Africa, an area also contested by powerful local al Qaeda affiliate Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin.

From its African bases, Islamic State aspires to conduct terrorist attacks against U.S. and European interests at home and overseas, according to American officials.

Al-Mainuki “thought he could hide in Africa, but little did he know we had sources who kept us informed on what he was doing,” Trump wrote.

The coordinated operation reflects the significant warming of U.S.-Nigeria relations since last year, when Trump blamed the Nigerian government’s inaction for what he described as “genocide” of Christians committed by Muslim militants.

At the time, Trump threatened to cut aid to Nigeria and send American troops in “guns-a-blazing” to kill Islamist extremists.

In the rapprochement that followed, the U.S. dispatched hundreds of American troops to train Nigerian forces, including in the complicated tactics of coordinated air-and-infantry operations. The U.S. said at the time that the American troops would provide intelligence on militant targets, but wouldn’t be involved in ground combat.

“Africa is the most important area of operations for Islamic State,” said Hans-Jakob Schindler, the former coordinator of the U.N. Security Council’s panel on Islamic State and al Qaeda. But Nigeria is a particular focus because it involves violence against Christians that resonates with Trump’s political base, Schindler said.

Attuned to Trump’s concerns, the Nigerians made a point Saturday of highlighting al-Mainuki’s role in overseeing attacks against ethnic and religious minorities. Trump made a point of thanking the Nigerian government for its role in the operation.

Al-Mainuki’s extremist roots could be traced back to Boko Haram, a Nigerian militant group infamous for kidnapping children, and he was linked to a 2018 abduction of more than 100 schoolgirls in Nigeria’s Yobe State.

By Benoit Faucon and Michael M. Phillips, WSJ

Related story US military carries out more strikes against ISIL fighters in Nigeria

US military carries out more strikes against ISIL fighters in Nigeria

The ⁠United States military’s Africa Command (AFRICOM) says it has carried out additional air strikes ‌against ISIL (ISIS) fighters in northeastern Nigeria in ⁠coordination with the Nigerian ⁠government.

The “additional kinetic” strikes happened on Sunday, AFRICOM said in a statement on Monday, adding that no US or ⁠Nigerian forces ⁠were ⁠harmed during the strikes.

“The removal of these terrorists diminishes the group’s capacity to plan attacks that threaten the safety and security of the US and our partners,” the statement said. “AFRICOM remains committed to leveraging specialized US capabilities in support of our partners to defeat shared security threats.”

The US attack in coordination with Nigeria came two days after the presidents of both countries announced the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as the second in command of ISIL. He was targeted “along with several of his lieutenants” in a strike on his compound in the Lake Chad Basin, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said on Saturday.

US President Donald Trump first made the announcement in a social media post on Friday without disclosing when or where the joint Nigerian-US military operation happened.

Before pledging allegiance to ISIL in 2015, al-Minuki was a prominent Boko Haram leader, according to the Nigerian army, which said al-Minuki oversaw key ISIL operations in the Sahel and West African regions for the ISIL affiliate in West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Dennis Amachree, former director of the US Department of State Services in Nigeria, told Al Jazeera that the killing of al-Minuki “is going to create a huge vacuum in the leadership and financing of ISWAP as many top officers were decimated with him”.

This latest wave of US-Nigeria coordinated attacks comes as dozens of US soldiers have been deployed to Nigeria in recent months to help fight against armed groups, engage in intelligence sharing and provide technical support.

Samaila Uba, Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters spokesman, has said US soldiers will not play a direct combat role but will share technical expertise under the full command authority of Nigerian forces.

Last Christmas, US forces launched air strikes on ISIL-affiliated fighters in northwestern Nigeria. Speaking about whether this incident was part of a broader military campaign, Trump told The New York Times: “I’d love to make it a one-time strike. But if they continue to kill Christians, it will be a many-time strike.”

The Nigerian government has rejected Trump’s accusation of mass killings of Christians in the West African country. Analysts said people across all faiths, not just Christians, are victims of armed groups.

Al Jazeera

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UN urges independent probes into deadly Nigeria, Chad air attacks

The United Nations human rights chief has demanded independent investigations into reports that separate air attacks by the Nigerian and Chadian forces in northern Nigeria killed more than 100 civilians.

“I am shocked by reports that Nigerian army airstrikes on a market in Zamfara state killed at least 100 civilians on 10 May and injured many more,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said in a statement on Wednesday.

He said he was also “alarmed and saddened” by the reports of high civilian casualties in attacks since Friday by Chadian jets against Boko Haram camps on remote islands in the vast marshland shared by Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad.

Nigeria’s military ‌has been battling “bandits” in the northwest, often describing them as “terrorists”. It has also been battling ‌an ‌armed rebellion in the northeast for 17 years.

The Nigerian military and the “bandit” gangs killed at least 100 civilians on Sunday in one of the bloodiest days in the state’s conflict against armed groups, according to Amnesty International.

Citing witnesses, Amnesty said many of those killed were women and children, and urged authorities to immediately investigate the attack on a crowded market in Tumfa village.

The bombardment has reportedly killed dozens of Nigerian fishermen working on islands under Boko Haram control, where civilians are forced to pay taxes to the armed group. Footage verified by the AFP news agency showed several fishermen with severe burns being treated at a hospital in Bosso, Niger.

“It is crucial that both Nigerian and Chadian authorities conduct prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigations into these disturbing incidents,” Turk said, adding that both militaries must “take all feasible precautions to avoid harm to civilians”.

“Their military operations, including against Boko Haram and the so-called ‘Islamic State West Africa Province’ must be conducted in full compliance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law,” he said, referring to the ISIL (ISIS) affiliate in West Africa Province (ISWAP). “Civilians and civilian objects must never be the target of attack.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian military said on Wednesday ⁠that there ⁠has been no evidence of civilian casualties in attacks in the ⁠northwest Zamfara state this month, calling reports of large death tolls unverified and misleading.

“No credible, substantiated evidence of civilian casualties has been established through any official assessment or independent ⁠verification,” defence headquarters spokesman Major-General ⁠Michael Onoja said in a statement.

Onoja claimed that the strike was conducted under international humanitarian law and targeted a “confirmed high-level gathering” based on intelligence sources in a village where “several terrorists were neutralised”.

By AFP and Reuters

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Amnesty: More than 100 civilians killed in Nigerian military airstrike

Nigerian civilians caught in the crossfire once again. Amnesty International says more than 100 civilians were killed in a military airstrike in the country's northwest. The group is calling on authorities to launch an immediate investigation.

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Nigeria, US launch defence working groups as insecurity worsens despite troops, drone support

Nigeria and the United States have inaugurated Defence Institutional Technical Working Groups (DITWGs) under the 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap, in a renewed effort to deepen military collaboration amid escalating insecurity across the country.

This was disclosed in a statement issued late Tuesday by Samaila Uba, the spokesperson for Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters (DHQ).

The initiative comes against the backdrop of expanded US military support, including the deployment of about 200 troops and MQ-9 surveillance drones reportedly operating from Bauchi State. The deployment, which began in February following diplomatic tensions tied to Christian genocide allegations by US President Donald Trump and the subsequent airstrikes in North-west Nigeria, was designed to provide intelligence gathering and training support to Nigerian forces rather than direct combat operations, Mr Uba had said.

US and Nigerian officials said the drones, capable of long-endurance surveillance, are being used strictly for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, with American personnel operating in advisory roles and not embedded on the frontlines. This was after many Nigerians raised concerns about the involvement of foreign military forces in internal security operations.

Despite these interventions, security conditions have continued to deteriorate. Insurgent groups, particularly Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have intensified attacks on military formations and civilian communities across northern Nigeria. Recent incidents, including deadly assaults and suicide bombings in the North-east, show the persistence and adaptability of extremist groups, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current strategies.

The DITWGs

At the inauguration ceremony, the head of the US delegation, Cate Dave, said the working groups would focus on strengthening institutional capacity and improving strategic planning to deny terrorists safe havens. He stressed that long-term counterterrorism success depends on building resilient defence systems, not just battlefield gains.

Nigeria’s delegation leader, Francis Edosa, an air vice marshal, said the partnership would enhance the warfighting capabilities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and improve responsiveness to evolving threats across the country and the wider region.

“Both sides stressed the need for practical outcomes, accountability and sustained collaboration to enhance security and regional stability,” Mr Uba, the DHQ spokesperson stated.

By Yakubu Mohammed, Premium Times

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Nigeria may lose U.S. security aid as lawmakers move to impose strict conditions

Nigeria could face tighter scrutiny over its security operations after U.S. lawmakers advanced a funding bill that places new conditions on American assistance to the country.

The legislation, approved by the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, ties future security support to measurable progress in addressing violence, particularly in regions affected by attacks on Christian communities.

U.S. Congressman Riley Moore, a key backer of the bill, accused the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu of failing to adequately respond to what he described as escalating violence, especially in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.

The country has seen persistent clashes involving ethnic militias, criminal gangs, and jihadist groups.

“This bill takes serious steps to address this crisis,” Moore said, adding that the United States would not ignore the situation.

U.S.–Nigeria Military Aid and Security Cooperation Over the Years

U.S. security assistance has long supported Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), mainly through training, intelligence sharing, and limited military support.

The U.S.–Nigeria relationship is one of Washington’s most important in sub-Saharan Africa, reflecting Nigeria’s strategic role as Africa’s most populous nation and largest economy.

Between FY2019 and FY2023, the U.S. provided about $5 million in International Military Education and Training (IMET) funding, alongside roughly $500,000 under the Africa Military Education Program (AMEP) since FY2016 to strengthen Nigeria’s military institutions.

Under Donald Trump’s recent-term approach, U.S. policy toward Nigeria became more forceful, with heightened focus on insecurity and allegations of Christian persecution.

His administration combined pressure - warning of aid cuts and potential military action - with limited intelligence and counterterrorism coordination.

The relationship later shifted toward cooperation, with the U.S. supporting Nigerian-led operations through intelligence sharing, training, and advisory assistance rather than direct intervention.

However, engagement has become more cautious overall due to concerns over civilian harm, human rights, and accountability.

Some U.S. officials have framed aspects of it as religiously driven, contributing to a gradual shift toward conditional aid tied to civilian protection, governance reforms, and humanitarian support.

Stricter conditions and deeper oversight

The proposed legislation sets out clear benchmarks Nigeria must meet before accessing U.S. security assistance.

These include effectively responding to violence, holding perpetrators accountable, prioritising resources for internally displaced persons, and facilitating their safe return to ancestral communities.

It also directs that U.S. support prioritise atrocity prevention, the advancement of religious freedom, prosecution of armed groups including Fulani militias, criminal gangs, and jihadist networks, as well as improved accountability for police and security forces.

Additional provisions emphasise humanitarian assistance and support for faith-based organisations operating in conflict-affected areas, alongside efforts to disarm armed groups.

Beyond the conditions, the bill introduces heightened oversight.

Nigeria would be added to a list of countries requiring enhanced monitoring, with the U.S. Secretary of State mandated to submit detailed plans outlining how every dollar of assistance is allocated and spent, subject to direct congressional review.

"The bill we passed out of committee also adds Nigeria to the list of countries requiring much higher levels of oversight. The Secretary is required to submit a plan for every dollar appropriated to Nigeria, and every dollar spent will have direct Congressional oversight." Rep Moore added.

The move signals a shift toward more conditional engagement between Washington and Abuja.

If enacted, it could reshape bilateral security cooperation, placing increased pressure on Nigeria to demonstrate measurable progress in addressing violence, protecting vulnerable communities, and restoring stability in affected regions.

By Solomon Ekanem, Business Insider Africa

Related story: Despite US troops and killer drones, Islamic State terrorizing Nigeria

Nigeria’s military backs local defense technology startup

Nigerian defense-tech startup Terra Industries unveiled its latest autonomous defense systems including interceptor drones, mine-detection vehicles and battlefield intelligence software.

Reuters

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Nigeria turns to local startup as insurgents escalate drone and bomb attacks

Local startup Terra Industries on Monday unveiled interceptor drones, mine-clearing unmanned vehicles and battlefield intelligence software that officials said could help troops confronting insurgents who have increasingly used roadside bombs and drones in recent attacks.

The launch shows a growing effort by Africa’s most populous nation to reduce dependence on imported military hardware and build domestic defence manufacturing capacity.

Nigeria has spent years buying aircraft, armoured vehicles and surveillance systems from countries including China, Turkey, Pakistan and the United States.

But procurement delays, maintenance bottlenecks and rising foreign exchange costs have strengthened the case for local production.

Terra Industries had previously focused on civilian drones and security technology before expanding into defence systems.

“We are unveiling new defence systems such as our interceptor UAVs, our minesweepers, ground vehicles that can detect IEDs on the ground, and our battlefield intelligence software,” Reuters quoted chief executive Nathan Nwachukwu as saying.

The timing is significant. Nigeria has battled Islamist insurgency in the northeast for more than a decade, with Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) remaining active despite repeated military offensives.

Violence linked to banditry and kidnappings has also spread across other parts of the country.

This year, militants have stepped up attacks on military positions using improvised explosive devices, ambush tactics and low-cost drones, showing how tools once associated mainly with advanced militaries are becoming more accessible to armed groups.

That has changed military planning worldwide. Cheap commercial drones modified for surveillance or attack roles have been widely used in conflicts from Ukraine to the Middle East, forcing armies to invest in counter-drone systems, electronic warfare and autonomous ground equipment.

For Nigeria, the challenge is acute, securing a vast territory while facing multiple threats and budget constraints.

Major General Babatunde Alaya, head of the state-owned Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), said collaboration with Terra Industries was necessary given troop casualties caused by hidden explosives and roadside bombs.

DICON has long been central to Nigeria’s ambition to produce more of its own defence equipment, but progress has historically been slow. Partnerships with private firms are increasingly seen as a faster route to innovation and scale.

Terra Industries has also announced plans to expand beyond Nigeria, including a manufacturing facility in Ghana, signalling ambitions to serve a wider African market and position itself in the region’s growing security technology industry.

As it is, defense innovation is no longer dominated only by global arms giants. Smaller local firms are beginning to compete in markets shaped by speed, adaptability and lower-cost technology.

By Ayodeji Adegboyega, Business Insider Africa

Related story: US tech billionaire Joe Lonsdale invests $11.8m in Nigerian drone firm to tackle Africa’s insecurity

Despite US troops and killer drones, Islamic State terrorizing Nigeria

Earlier this month, the United States, citing heightened risk of terror attacks, pulled all non-essential staff and their families from its embassy in Nigeria’s political capital, Abuja.

Nigeria responded in a typical fashion, issuing a statement acknowledging that American concerns are well intentioned but do “not reflect the overall security situation” in the country. Yet within days, a confidential memo emerged from Nigeria’s border security which has proven Washington’s assessment to be true.

According to the leaked memo, sleeper cells linked to Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram are planning coordinated attacks targeting key facilities in the country’s capital. The list of targets reportedly includes a prison, a military detention centre and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. Caught flat-footed, Nigeria has neither confirmed nor denied the alert, but there are now noticeable security deployments and heavy fortifications at the respective target areas.

The significance of a possible terrorist attack on Abuja cannot be overstated. Apart from being the seat of government, Abuja is home to several diplomatic missions and corporate headquarters. As a result, it has a significant population of foreigners and members of the diplomatic community.

In 2011, Boko Haram detonated a car bomb at the office of the United Nations in Abuja, killing at least 18 people. Another suicide bombing at the headquarters of the Nigerian Police Force in June of the same year killed at least six people. Similar attacks continued in succeeding years, causing sustained anxiety within the diplomatic community even as foreign missions intensified security measures to protect staff and buildings. Indeed, the U.S. ordered a similar evacuation in October 2022 due to heightened risk of terror attacks on the capital.

Since 2009, Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has been battling a complex and overlapping security crisis characterized by widespread kidnappings, banditry, and terrorist attacks across the country’s north. The crisis caught the attention of President Donald Trump last year, prompting him to redesignate Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for tolerating the slaughter of Christians — an accusation Nigeria fervently rejected.

Trump also threatened military action if Nigeria’s government failed to act to protect Christians. On Christmas Day last year, he followed up on the threat by authorizing an airstrike against ISIS-affiliated targets in North Western Sokoto state.

The diplomatic row that ensued prompted Nigeria to launch a desperate public relations effort and hire Washington-based DCI Group for $9 million to manage its image on Capitol Hill. Also hired was Valcour Global Public Strategy, a Washington-based lobbying firm, for the “purpose of strengthening the bilateral relationship” between Nigeria and the U.S.

Tensions cooled in January when Washington began to tone down its harsh criticism, preferring instead to work jointly with Nigeria’s government to tackle the crisis. In February, Washington deployed 200 troops alongside multiple MQ-9 reaper drones to assist the country with training and intelligence gathering.

But neither the increased U.S. support nor the extensive PR on Capitol hill has stopped the killings — be it of Christians or Muslims. In early February, gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram or the ISIS-affiliated Lakurawa group attacked Woro and Nuku, two Muslim-majority villages in Kwara state, killing between 170 and 200 people.

Survivors reported that the community was targeted because residents refused to join the jihadists or accept their extremist interpretation of Islam. Attackers reportedly bound victims' hands and executed them, while others were trapped and burned alive inside shops. Likewise on Palm Sunday, March 29, at least 20 people were killed during an attack by the Fulani militia on Angwan Rukuba, a Christian community in Nigeria’s North Central state of Plateau.

Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, promised grieving Nigerians in Jos, Plateau state, that “this experience will not repeat itself,” but in the meantime more than five other states notably Nasarawa, Zamfara, Borno, Benue and Kaduna have recorded fresh massacres of Christians, signaling a breakdown of public order.

At the same time, large-scale abductions are gradually becoming normalized across the country, with Amnesty International estimating over 1,100 people kidnapped between January and April this year. According to UNHCR, over 3.7 million Nigerians are internally displaced as of early 2026 because of the expanding violence.

The resurgence of jihadist operations in Nigeria fits into a regional pattern where groups such as Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) have carried out mass fatality attacks and laid siege on cities and towns across the Sahel, especially in Mali and Burkina Faso.

Indeed, the planned Jihadist attack in Abuja mimics a dramatic operation by the Islamic State Sahel Province earlier in January in neighboring Niger Republic. During that incident on January 30, militants armed with explosives launched a major attack on Diori Hamani International Airport and the adjacent Base 101 in Niamey injuring four soldiers while several passenger planes and military hangars were destroyed.

A similar attack on the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, the only airport in Nigeria’s capital catering for between 3 and 5 million passengers annually, could be catastrophic.

But thwarting one single attack is not the same as decisively winning the war on terror. While the U.S. has poured about $1.8 billion in weapons sales into Nigeria over the last decade, the operational challenges of an overstretched army deployed across a region that is far larger than France remain unresolved. The immediate consequence is that, even when troops dislodge fighters and retake territory, they are often unable to hold it long enough to guarantee long-term success.

Meanwhile the fast-moving security crisis continues to deteriorate and expand rapidly, leaving the current counter-terrorism approach dangerously lagging behind. According to the Institute of Security Studies, the resilience of jihadist groups in Nigeria derives partly from the existence of vast ungoverned spaces that serve as ecosystems for them to regroup and re-arm.

For Nigeria to win the war on terror, military force must be combined with urgent governance reforms to expand state presence to every nook and cranny of the country through services and accountability. Only this can enhance local resilience and deny terrorists the vacuum they exploit for recruitment and control.

By Taiwo Hassan, Responsible Statecraft

Related story: Turkey to train 200 Nigerian special forces soldiers under new defence deal

US drones deployed to Nigeria alongside troops for intelligence, training

Boko Haram violence: Abuja buries senior army officers killed in attacks

Turkey to train 200 Nigerian special forces soldiers under new defence deal

Nigeria and Turkey have struck a defence agreement to help Africa's most populous nation fight its 17-year-long jihadist insurgency, the Nigerian defence minister said on Saturday.

"We have agreed to move into training, production, improving on our defence industry cooperation," General Christopher Musa told Turkish media, according to the Anadolu agency.

Musa met with his Turkish counterpart Yaşar Güler at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2026 over the weekend.

The Nigerian defence minister specified that 200 members of the Nigerian army's special forces would be sent to Turkey immediately for training.

The agreement also includes the establishment of "a major military training facility in Nigeria," according to a statement from Abuja on Sunday.

The two countries are also set to collaborate in areas including technology transfer, intelligence sharing and advanced surveillance.

Diversify security partners

Besides radical Islamists from Boko Haram and its rival splinter group, the Islamic State West Africa Province, Nigeria is also plagued by gangs of armed criminals known as bandits who pillage, kill and kidnap in the northwest.

The country also has to contend with the worsening security crisis across the Sahel — the vast region bordering the southern Sahara desert — which has allowed jihadists to expand across west Africa.

Nigeria's longstanding security woes have drawn the ire of the United States in recent months, withPresident Donald Trump claiming that the country's Christians face "persecution."

In an attempt to reduce its reliance on the US, Nigeria has sought to diversify its security partners.

Musa's Turkey trip comes in the wake of President Bola Tinubu's visit in late January, the first by a Nigerian head of state in nine years.

Turkey is renowned for its inexpensive armed drones, of which it is the world's leading exporter.

"Turkey has improved dramatically regards production of military hardware and Nigeria is still developing," Musa said. “

The outcomes of this engagement mark a significant step forward in Nigeria–Türkiye (sic) defence relations," the Nigerian defence ministry added in a statement.

Africa News

Nigeria police arrest 33-member gang over church abductions

Nigerian police have arrested a 33-member gang over a November attack in which 38 people were abducted from a church in central Kwara state, police said on Tuesday, as part of a nationwide crackdown on violence.

Federal police spokesperson Anthony Okon Placid said the gang carried out the 18th November attack on Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku town and was also responsible for other kidnappings, cattle rustling, and armed robbery across the region.

The 33 suspects were arrested in coordinated raids across Kwara and neighbouring Kogi state following human and technical intelligence, part of a wider operation that has detained 50 suspects since January, Placid said in a statement.

Nigeria has long grappled with insecurity, from mass kidnappings for ransom to banditry and militant attacks. The Eruku assault intensified pressure on the government, already under scrutiny from US President Donald Trump, who had threatened military action over what he calls persecution of Christians.

Placid said the police would charge several suspects soon, while pursuing fleeing gang members and recovering more weapons.

Reuters

Up to 200 civilians killed in Nigeria after air force 'misfire' on market

A Nigerian Air Force strike targeting jihadist rebels hit a local market in the northeast, killing as many as 200 civilians, a local chief reported on Monday.

Officials confirmed a misfire but provided no further details.

Amnesty International cited survivors as saying that at least 100 people were killed in the air strike on Saturday on a village in Yobe state, near the border with Borno state, which is the epicentre of the insurgency that has ravaged the region for over a decade.

“We have their pictures and they include children,” Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International's Nigeria director, said, referring to the casualties.

“We are in touch with people that are there, we spoke with the hospital,” he said. “We spoke with the person in charge of casualties and we spoke with the victims.”

A worker at the Geidam General hospital in Yobe, said at least 23 people injured in the incident were receiving treatment. The worker spoke anonymously as he was not authorised to speak to the media.

Such misfires are common in Nigeria, where the military often conducts air raids to battle armed groups who control vast forest enclaves.

At least 500 civilians have died since 2017 in such misfires, according to a tally of reported deaths carried out by the AP news agency.

Security analysts point to loopholes in intelligence gathering as well as insufficient coordination between ground troops, air assets and stakeholders.

The large, remote market located near the Borno-Yobe border is known to be often used by Boko Haram militants to buy food supplies.

Abdulmumin Bulama, a member of a civilian security group working with the Nigerian military in the northeast, said there was intelligence that Boko Haram terrorists had gathered very close to the market and were planning an attack on nearby communities.

“The intel was shared and the Air Force jet acted based on the credible information,” Bulama said.

The Yobe State Government confirmed in a statement that a Nigerian military strike was targeting a stronghold of the Boko Haram jihadi group in the area and that “some people…who went to the Jilli weekly market were affected.”

The Yobe State Emergency Management Agency also acknowledged that an incident had occurred resulting in “casualties affecting some marketers” and said it had dispatched response teams to the area.

Nigeria's military issued a statement saying it conducted a successful strike on a “terrorist enclave and logistics hub” belonging to terrorists in the area, killing scores of them as they rode on motorcycles.

It did not provide any detail about a possible misfire, but noted that motorcycles remain prohibited in conflict hot spots and “any such movements in restricted areas are therefore treated with the utmost seriousness.”

Amnesty International has called for an independent investigation into the incident, adding that the military is “fond of” labelling civilian casualties as bandits

Nigeria, which is Africa’s most populous country, is battling a complex security crisis, especially in the north, where there is a decade-long insurgency and several armed groups that kidnap for ransom.

Among the most prominent Islamic militant groups are Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, which is affiliated with the Islamic State group and known as Islamic State West Africa Province. There is also the IS-linked Lakurawa group operating in communities in the northwestern part of the country that borders Niger Republic.

By Gavin Blackburn, euronews

Related stories: Nigeria opens investigation after deadly airstrike kills dozens in market

Survivors ask why Nigeria bombed busy market in effort to target jihadist group

Nigeria opens investigation after deadly airstrike kills dozens in market

The airstrikes on the village of Jilli, in Yobe State, occurred on Saturday, with the death tolls differing according to the sources.

Nigerian military jets struck the village market while pursuing Islamist militants in the northeast of the country on Saturday night, a councillor for the area and residents said on Sunday.

A UN security report seen by French news agency AFP first stated that "4 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets launched airstrikes that mistakenly killed at least 56 people and injured 14 others at the Jilli market... on 11 April."

"This occurred during a military operation targeting Boko Haram fighters who visited the market to conduct terrorism activities," it added.

Amnesty International initially said on social media that there were "more than 100 dead" and 35 people seriously injured when the attack happened.

Local chief Lawan Zanna Nur Geidam described it as "a devastating incident".

"As I'm speaking to you, over 200 people have lost their lives from the air strike at the market," he said in a telephone interview with Reuters.

He said injured people had been taken to hospitals in Yobe and Borno.

Crossfire

Nigeria's military first said it had "successfully conducted a precision air strike on a known terrorist enclave and logistics hub located near the abandoned village of Jilli". It added that "scores of terrorists" were killed in the strike, but did not mention any civilian deaths.

In a separate statement, the air force announced it had launched an investigation following reports that its airstrike "may have affected a local market in Jilli, resulting in civilian casualties".

The Nigerian Air Force said in its statement it had activated its Civilian Harm Accident and Investigation Cell "to immediately proceed to the location on a fact-finding mission on the allegation".

The government of Yobe state later said in its own statement that an air strike on the area had been conducted near a market where shoppers and vendors had gathered.

"Some people from Geidam LGA (local government area) bordering Gubio LGA in Borno state who went to the Jilli weekly market were affected," said Brigadier General Dahiru Abdulsalam, military adviser to the Yobe state government. He gave no further details.

Mistaken targets

The strike occurred on the border between Yobe and Borno states, the heartland of the long-running insurgency that has killed thousands of people and displaced millions more over the years.

Africa's most populous country has been fighting a jihadist insurgency for 17 years, since Boko Haram's 2009 uprising, which has seen the emergence of powerful splinter groups including Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Jihadists kill 18 Nigerian troops including senior brigadier general

This strike is the latest in a series of such incidents in the north of the country.

In January 2025, a military airstrike killed at least 16 people in northwestern Zamfara state after an army jet mistook local vigilantes for criminal gangs.

A month earlier, a military jet killed 10 people when it hit villages while bombing jihadist positions in neighbouring Sokoto state.

International scrutiny and US involvement

Jihadist violence had slowed from its peak in around 2015 but Boko Haram and ISWAP have recently increased attacks in northeastern Nigeria vying to establish a caliphate.

Researchers have noted a rise in violence since last year. More than 100 people in the north have been killed over the last 10 days by both jihadists and criminal gangs.

Nigeria is facing international scrutiny over its security situation, including pressure from US President Donald Trump, who ordered bombardments on Islamists militants last Christmas.

Earlier this year the United States began deploying 200 troops to Nigeria to provide technical and training support to soldiers in fighting jihadist groups.

In the face of pressure to tackle insecurity, Nigeria's Justice Minister Lateef Fagbemi on Friday said the government had brought to court 508 cases and convicted nearly 386 people for links to jihadists groups terrorism in a mass trial.

rfi

Related stories: Survivors ask why Nigeria bombed busy market in effort to target jihadist group

Up to 200 civilians killed in Nigeria after air force 'misfire' on market

Survivors ask why Nigeria bombed busy market in effort to target jihadist group

Survivors and observers have questioned the Nigerian military’s rationale for a devastating airstrike on a busy market that killed as many as 200 people, many of them civilians.

The hit on Jilli market on the border of the north-eastern Borno and Yobe states on Saturday is the latest in a string of attacks by the country’s air force over the past decade with a high civilian death toll.

The military said it had been targeting members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (Iswap) jihadist group. A local councillor said more than 200 people had died, while Amnesty International said the death toll was above 100 and rising.

Nigeria has struggled to suppress multiple conflicts, including an insurgency in the north-east by the Islamist group Boko Haram, which it has been battling for 17 years. The group split in 2016, with Iswap forming in its place. Meanwhile, the country’s north-west region is beset by armed groups of bandits, and there are regular fatal clashes between herders and farmers in the country’s middle belt.

Nigeria’s military said in a post on X on Sunday that it had “successfully conducted a precision airstrike on a known terrorist enclave and logistics hub located near the abandoned village of Jilli … [that] followed sustained intelligence”.

The statement, attributed to the military spokesperson Sani Uba, said: “Post-strike assessment confirmed that the target area was struck with high accuracy, resulting in the destruction of the identified terrorist logistics enclave. Scores of terrorists were neutralised in the strike.”

However, local traders denied that Islamist fighters had been among them. “I don’t know if there were jihadists at the market. We are just ordinary people,” Mala Garba, 42, told Agence France-Presse while recovering from injuries at a hospital in Maiduguri, Borno’s state capital.

He was among 46 victims of the airstrike at the hospital. Some were heavily bandaged, while others had IV drips attached.

Lawan Zanna Nur Geidam, the area’s local councillor and traditional leader, said: “It’s a very devastating incident at Jilli market. As I’m speaking to you, over 200 people have lost their lives from the airstrike at the market.”

Yobe state officials later admitted that civilians had been affected. “Some people … who went to the Jilli weekly market were affected,” Brig Gen Dahiru Abdulsalam, a military adviser to the Yobe state government, told Reuters.

It was likely there had been Iswap members or supporters at the market, said Malik Samuel, a researcher with Good Governance Africa. “That area is particularly known for the presence of Iswap,” he said. “It’s a major logistics route for the group.”

However, he said it would have been “impossible” for an airstrike to distinguish between fighters and civilians at a busy market frequented by hundreds or even thousands of people, adding: “Would it not be better to trace people leaving the market and going to known areas occupied by this group … instead of just hitting a market that you know clearly that there would be civilians in this place?”

Nigeria’s military has killed at least 500 civilians in airstrikes since 2017, according to the Associated Press. At least 115 people were killed in 2017 when a camp housing displaced people in Borno was bombed. More than 120 people were killed in two airstrikes on a religious gathering in Kaduna state in December 2023.

“The lack of accountability is a big problem, because it emboldens the military to continue doing that,” Samuel said.

Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International Nigeria’s executive director, said: “You cannot trust the military to investigate themselves. Whenever they investigate themselves, the outcome is as usual: they exonerate themselves.”

He added: “These deadly airstrikes will undermine trust in public institutions and will even undermine the fight against insurgency and banditry.”

The US has previously accused Nigeria of failing to protect Christians from jihadists, although Muslim civilians are also killed by Islamist groups. On Christmas Day 2025, the US carried out airstrikes on an Islamist group known as Lakurawa in north-west Nigeria.

By Rachel Savage, The Guardian

Related stories:  Up to 200 civilians killed in Nigeria after air force 'misfire' on market

Nigeria opens investigation after deadly airstrike kills dozens in market

Military air strikes kill dozens of people in northeast Nigeria

Dozens of people died in air strikes in Nigeria's northeastern Yobe state as military aircraft hunted jihadists, local residents and Amnesty International said Sunday.

Africa's most populous country has been fighting a jihadist insurgency for 17 years, since Boko Haram's 2009 uprising, which has seen the emergence of powerful splinter groups including Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

In recent years, civilians have been caught in the crossfire and killed in military air strikes targeting the militants, though the authorities sometimes dispute hitting civilians.

The latest air strikes on the village of Jilli occurred on Saturday, the death tolls differing according to the sources.

Amnesty International said on X there were "more than 100 dead" and 35 people seriously wounded.

“We have their pictures and they include children,” Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International's Nigeria director, told the Associated Press, referring to the casualties.

“We are in touch with people that are there, we spoke with the hospital,” he said. “We spoke with the person in charge of casualties, and we spoke with the victims.”

Local chief Lawan Zanna Nur however said "the total casualties, dead and injured, is around 200".

Many were taken to hospitals in nearby Geidam and Maiduguri, he added, where at least eight more of the wounded had died Sunday.

"We are talking of dozens dead but it is difficult to give a specific toll," he said.

Nigeria's military said in a statement it had struck a location in Jilli, "long identified as a major terrorist movement corridor and convergence point for Islamic State West Africa Province terrorists and their collaborators".

Calling it "a carefully, well coordinated planned and intelligence-driven operation", the military said in a statement that it "successfully conducted a precision air strike on a known terrorist enclave and logistics hub located near the abandoned village of Jilli".

It said "scores of terrorists" were killed in the strike, but did not mention any civilian casualties.

The Nigerian Air Force later responded to reports of civilian casualties with a statement saying it had activated ‌its Civilian Harm Accident and Investigation Cell "to immediately proceed to the location on a fact-finding ⁠mission on the allegation".

A market committee member Bulama Mulima Abbas told AFP "36 bodies have been counted" after the airstrike "on the traders".

An intelligence source told AFP that Jilli market "is wholly controlled by Boko Haram who provides security and collect tax from traders".

Jihadist violence had slowed from its peak in around 2015 but Boko Haram and ISWAP have recently stepped up attacks in northeastern Nigeria in their campaign to establish a caliphate.

The insurgency which started in 2009 has killed more than 40,000 people and displaced around two million more, according to the United Nations.

Early this year the United States began deploying 200 troops to Nigeria to provide technical and training support to soldiers in fighting jihadist groups.

Nigeria's Attorney General and Minister of justice, Lateef Fagbemi on Friday said nearly 400 people had been convicted for terrorism and terrorism financing in the latest series of mass trials.

"In total, we brought about 508 cases. Of this 508, we were able to secure 386 convictions, 8 discharges, 2 acquittals and 112 adjourned to the next phase," he told reporters.

France 24

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