Description: Nigeria’s government has stated that an investigation would be launched into the military’s airstrikes in Borno and Yobe federal states which resulted in the death of more than one hundred civilians. The military has claimed that it targeted known transportation corridors pertaining to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorist group, which ran through the targeted Jilli marketplace. A few days prior to the military airstrikes, ISWAP in coordination with Boko Haram conducted a well-versed attack on several military outposts in Borno state, killing an army general and dozens of Nigerian soldiers. Another base, located in Benisheikh, was also targeted, however, the military managed to resist the attacks, killing most of the terrorists.
Impact: The national security situation in Nigeria continues to deteriorate as the military unprecedentedly targeted a busy civilian marketplace. Nigeria is facing a national security crisis spread on three different fronts which are ranging from large terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP to tribesmen and herdsmen violence and armed militants, mostly conducting kidnappings and extortion. Evidence of collusion between once rivaling terrorist groups such as ISWAP and Boko Haram would likely further complicate the situation, putting Nigeria’s already uncoordinated security apparatus in a state of permanent crisis. Instability is likely to prevail, as terrorist groups continue to consolidate territorial control through organizational convergence with smaller militant groups.