In a tragic turn of events in northeastern Nigeria, airstrikes carried out by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) targeting suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) positions in Borno State have reportedly claimed the lives of numerous civilians. The strikes were conducted around the Mararaba area in Kukawa Local Government Area, where fishermen and commercial drivers had gathered.
According to security sources, the operations lasted several hours on Sunday, 14 December, and occurred just hours after the NAF had pledged to protect civilians during its counter-insurgency campaign, which has previously received international support.
Eyewitnesses and residents told reporters that many of those killed were local traders and drivers waiting at a transport junction used to convey fish and other goods. While exact casualty figures remain uncertain, at least three civilians have been confirmed dead and multiple vehicles destroyed in the aftermath of the air raids.
Some of the injured have been taken to Mungono General Hospital for treatment, as community members and human rights advocates call for answers and accountability from military authorities. The NAF has yet to issue an official statement addressing the reported civilian toll, deepening public concern over the safety of non-combatants in ongoing operations against insurgent groups in the region.
