Civilians feared killed after reports of air strike on Nigerian market
Civilians May Have Been Killed in Air Strike on Nigerian Market, Reports Suggest
Concerns have emerged about civilian deaths following reports of an air strike near the border of Yobe and Borno states in northeastern Nigeria. The incident occurred at a village market, according to the Reuters news agency and local accounts, as military jets conducted operations against Islamist militants in the region.
Nigerian Air Force Statement
The Nigerian Air Force claimed to have executed “mop-up” operations targeting “identified terrorist locations” within Borno State’s Jilli axis on Saturday. However, it has not officially confirmed whether the market was hit or if any casualties resulted from the strikes.
Details about the attack remain unclear, with the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency noting it had received “preliminary reports” of an incident at Jilli Market in Gubio local government area. The agency stated that emergency teams were “immediately deployed” but emphasized that “the nature of the incident and casualty numbers are still unverified.”
Conflicting Casualty Reports
Accounts of the number of people killed vary significantly. Reuters cited Lawan Zanna Nur Geidam, a councillor in Yobe’s Geidam district, along with three residents and an international humanitarian official, to report at least 200 casualties. “It’s a very devastating incident,” Geidam said, adding that injured individuals were taken to hospitals in Yobe and Borno.
“Some people from Geidam LGA, bordering Gubio LGA in Borno state, who went to the Jilli weekly market were affected,” stated Brigadier General Dahiru Abdulsalam on Facebook.
Meanwhile, Nigerian outlets such as the Sun and Punch mentioned sources claiming 10 fatalities and several injuries. Yet, the Daily Trust reported an eyewitness saying at least 56 people died, with 14 others hospitalized. The market, which typically draws traders and buyers from nearby communities, is now under scrutiny for its role in the conflict.
Witness Accounts and Condemnation
Ahmed Ali, a 43-year-old trader, told Reuters he was wounded in the blast. “I became so scared and attempted to run away, but a friend dragged me and we all lay on the ground,” he recounted.
“Launching air raids is not a legitimate law enforcement method by anyone’s standard,” said a post on X from Nigeria’s Amnesty International branch. “Such reckless use of deadly force is unlawful, outrageous and lays bare the Nigerian military’s shocking disregard for the lives of those it supposedly exists to protect.”
The region lies at the heart of the ongoing Boko Haram conflict, which has displaced over two million people and claimed thousands of lives. Past incidents have seen military air operations mistakenly strike villages, refugee camps, and markets, raising questions about the accuracy of targeting efforts. The latest strike adds to a pattern of civilian casualties in the area.
