By Abdullahi Alhassan
Kaduna, Nigeria, April 12, 2026(Series News Online)- The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC/Transparency International in Nigeria, has condemned an airstrike by the Nigerian Air Force that hit a civilian market along the Borno–Yobe boundary, reportedly killing and injuring dozens.
In a statement made available on Saturday, Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), said the organisation was “deeply concerned” by the incident, which occurred during operations targeting insurgents.
“This tragic incident adds to a disturbing pattern of civilian harm in counterterrorism operations, including previous accidental airstrikes in some conflict-affected communities,” the statement read.
CISLAC extended condolences to the victims and called for an “urgent, transparent, and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding this attack.”
The group said evidence from similar cases points to “recurring structural gaps such as weak intelligence verification, lack of precision targeting capacity, and pressure for rapid results.”
“Airstrikes often rely on single-source or outdated intelligence, especially in environments where insurgents mix with civilians,” Rafsanjani said. “Military units under constant pressure to neutralize insurgents quickly lower verification thresholds.”
CISLAC demanded the establishment of a “credible civilian-led investigative panel comprising the National Human Rights Commission, civil society, and international observers where necessary.” It also called for “public disclosure of findings and accountability for errors or negligence,” as well as “adequate compensation and support to victims and families.”
The organisation urged the immediate adoption of a Civilian Protection Framework to institutionalise Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response as used by modern militaries.
“We recommend mandatory civilian risk assessments before strikes, formulation and implementation of comprehensive policy on no-strike lists such as markets, hospitals, religious sites, and real-time abort protocols when civilian presence is detected,” Rafsanjani said.
CISLAC further called for the review and adoption of global counterterrorism best practices, including “multi-layered intelligence verification, persistent surveillance before engagement, precision-guided munitions, civil-military coordination through civilian joint task forces, early warning signals, local intelligence validation, and post-strike civilian harm assessment.”
It recommended a comprehensive upgrade in defence hardware, including “integration of ISR drones with real-time video feeds, facial recognition and pattern-of-life analytics, precision-guided weapons, and secured communication systems linking pilots to ground intelligence units.”
The statement also demanded a comprehensive Civilian Protection Policy across all armed forces and stronger civilian oversight. “The National Assembly must enforce regular oversight hearings on military operations and mandatory reporting of civilian casualty incidents,” Rafsanjani said.
CISLAC stressed that “civilian protection is not optional but a legal and moral obligation in every counter-terrorism operational planning and process.”
“Counterterrorism operations that repeatedly result in civilian casualties are counterproductive and unsustainable,” the statement added. “We further call on the Nigerian government to urgently reform its operational, training, and accountability frameworks to ensure that such tragic incidents do not become a normalized feature of military operations.”
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