Civilians are feared to have been killed after reports emerged that Nigerian military jets struck a village market in the country’s conflict-hit north-east during a military operation targeting Islamist militants.
The incident reportedly occurred near the border of Yobe State and Borno State, an area long plagued by insurgency linked to Boko Haram. According to Reuters and local sources, the strike hit a busy market in the Jilli axis, where traders and residents had gathered.
In a statement, the Nigerian Air Force confirmed it conducted “mop-up” air strikes on Saturday targeting “identified terrorist locations,” aimed at fleeing insurgents and regrouping cells. However, it has not confirmed whether the market was struck or provided details on civilian casualties.
Casualty figures remain unclear, with conflicting reports from various sources. Reuters, citing local officials and residents, reported that as many as 200 people may have been killed. Other Nigerian media outlets, including The Sun and Punch, reported at least 10 deaths with several injuries, while Daily Trust cited eyewitness accounts suggesting at least 56 fatalities and multiple hospitalisations.
A local councillor, Lawan Zanna Nur Geidam, described the incident as “very devastating,” adding that the injured had been transported to hospitals across the region.
The Yobe State Emergency Management Agency said it had received preliminary reports of the incident at Jilli Market in Gubio Local Government Area, noting that casualties were recorded but details remain unverified. Emergency response teams have since been deployed to assess the situation.
Authorities in Yobe also confirmed that some of their residents who had travelled to the market were affected. Brigadier General Dahiru Abdulsalam stated that individuals from Geidam Local Government Area were among those impacted.
Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of panic and chaos following the strike. A trader, Ahmed Ali, who sustained injuries, told Reuters he narrowly escaped death. “I became so scared and attempted to run away, but a friend dragged me and we all lay on the ground,” he said.
Rights group Amnesty International condemned the operation, alleging that more than 100 people had been killed. The organisation criticised the use of air strikes in civilian-populated areas, describing it as “reckless” and unlawful.
Nigeria’s north-east has witnessed repeated incidents in which military operations targeting insurgents have inadvertently struck civilian locations, including displacement camps and marketplaces, raising ongoing concerns about rules of engagement and civilian protection.