Nigeria, April 15 -- The Nigerian government has defended the 11 April airstrike on a market bordering Borno and Yobe State, describing it as a "deliberate, intelligence-led operation" that targeted terrorist elements.

The government, however, ordered a full investigation into the reported civilian casualties during the operation.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), as part of the operation Hadin Kai, a joint task force confronting insurgents in the North-east, bombed the border located in Jilli, killing many civilians.

Amnesty International estimated that more than 100 civilians were killed in the strikes. While military authorities emphasised that terrorists were the primary targets of the operation, they acknow...