The Nigerian government has defended an April 11 airstrike on a market near the Borno-Yobe state border (a remote northeastern region long contested by Islamist insurgents) as a "deliberate, intelligence-led operation" targeting Boko Haram and ISWAP militants, after Amnesty International estimated more than 100 civilians were killed in the strike. Authorities described the Jilli market — locally known as "Kasua Daulaye" — as an insurgent-controlled enclave officially closed for five years, where militants collected levies and coordinated attacks, and stressed the area had been designated a restricted high-risk zone. The government has nonetheless ordered a full independent investigation into the civilian casualties, expressed condolences to affected families, and pledged to strengthen operational safeguards while urging civilians to observe security advisories in conflict zones.