Hours After Vowing Civilian Safety, NAF Airstrikes in Borno Reportedly Kill Scores of Civilians” Panic as fishermen, drivers caught in crossfire in Kukawa LGA📅 Published: December 15, 2025

📍 Borno State, Nigeria: In a tragic turn of events, Nigerian Air Force (NAF) airstrikes targeting the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Borno State have reportedly killed an unspecified number of civilians, just hours after the military vowed to protect non-combatants in its operations supported by the United States, multiple security sources and local reports confirm.

The strikes were launched between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. on December 14, 2025, in the Mararaba area of Kukawa Local Government Area, hitting a terminus junction where fishermen and commercial drivers had gathered to transport fish products to nearby destinations, a security source told Premium Times and Tori.ng.

The junction lies between roads leading to Daban Masara in Kukawa and Badeiri in Marte LGA. “Some casualties have been taken to the general hospital in Monguno for treatment,” the source said, confirming three confirmed deaths so far and the destruction of 10 vehicles — though they added that “a high number of civilians have been killed” with the final toll still unconfirmed.

A NAF pilot also verified the incident was discussed at a military briefing on December 15 in a northwestern state, though the air force has yet to issue an official statement on the civilian deaths.

The incident comes amid a separate NAF operation on the same day targeting a terrorist logistics base at Dabar Masara in southern Tumbuns, Monguno LGA, where the military claimed to have neutralized scores of insurgents and destroyed armed vehicles following “credible intelligence” and strict adherence to rules of engagement, according to NAF spokesperson Air Commodore Ehi Men Ejo Dame. It remains unclear if the two operations are linked.

Security analyst Brant Phillip noted that over 10,000 fishermen work in ISWAP-controlled areas near Lake Chad, paying taxes to the group for protection from bandits and rival faction Boko Haram — making civilian presence in such zones “not unusual at all”.

“The NAF should release a statement soon to clarify the incident,” he said on social media. The reported civilian deaths highlight ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts in the northeast, where the conflict with Boko Haram and ISWAP has killed over 35,000 civilians and displaced 2 million people since 2009, according to the United Nations.

The NAF has repeatedly emphasized its commitment to “precision air operations” to minimize harm to non-combatants, a pledge it reaffirmed ahead of the December 14 strikes.