Nigeria orders investigation into deadly air strike on crowded market killing at least 56 civilians in Jilli border village region.
Statement marks reversal after officials initially claimed strike targeted militants in Saturday operation near Yobe and Borno borders border region.
Military said it targeted a logistics hub near abandoned Jilli village claiming ISWAP militants operated around border area northeastern Nigeria.
However UN monitored report stated strikes hit crowded Jilli market mistakenly killing at least 56 civilians according findings assessment report.
Local chief Lawan Zanna Nur said combined dead and injured numbered around 200 people after devastating explosions in the area.
Information Minister Mohammed Idris announced federal government ordered full independent investigation into the air strike incident on Tuesday evening officially.
The air force has also launched its own internal review into the operation following mounting public concern nationwide scrutiny grows.
Earlier government statements shifted from denial toward justification as officials defended the operation and initial intelligence assessments public communications strategy.
Presidential spokesman Sunday Dare said the Jilli market had not functioned as a legitimate civilian marketplace in any sense meaningful.
Defense Minister Christopher Musa issued stern remarks warning that anyone supporting militants would be treated as terrorists without any exception.
Amnesty International Nigeria criticised such justification saying civilian market attacks cannot be excused under counterinsurgency operations according to statement released.
Nigeria’s northeast has endured a decade-long insurgency where civilian casualties frequently blur lines between combat zones and everyday life itself.