Civilians feared killed after reports of air strike on Nigerian market
Civilians feared killed after reports of air strike on Nigerian market
The Nigerian military’s air strikes in the north-east have sparked concerns about civilian casualties, with reports suggesting a market in the region was hit. According to Reuters and local accounts, the attack occurred near the border between Yobe and Borno states as part of an operation targeting Islamist militants. The Nigerian Air Force claimed it conducted “mop-up” strikes on “identified terrorist locations” within Borno State’s Jilli axis on Saturday, though it has not confirmed the market was targeted or the casualty count.
Discrepancies in the number of victims emerged following the strike. A councillor in Yobe’s Geidam district, along with three residents and an international humanitarian official, reported at least 200 people killed, while other Nigerian outlets cited lower figures. The Sun and Punch noted 10 fatalities and several injuries, but the Daily Trust claimed an eyewitness reported 56 deaths and 14 hospitalizations. The market typically draws traders and buyers from nearby communities, according to the news agency.
“It’s a very devastating incident,” said Lawan Zanna Nur Geidam, who described the injured as being taken to hospitals in Yobe and Borno.
Yobe State’s emergency response team confirmed receiving “preliminary reports” of the incident at Jilli Market in Gubio local government area, which “reportedly resulted in casualties affecting some marketers.” They stated that teams were deployed to assess the situation, but details about the attack’s impact remain unconfirmed. Brigadier General Dahiru Abdulsalam, representing the neighboring Yobe state, noted that some residents from Geidam LGA who visited the market were impacted.
Ahmed Ali, a 43-year-old market trader, told Reuters he was injured 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. Amnesty International’s Nigeria branch condemned the strike, calling it “over 100 people killed” and criticizing the military’s use of air raids. “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,” a post on X stated.
Nigeria’s north-east has witnessed multiple incidents where military air operations against Islamist insurgents have mistakenly targeted civilians. These include attacks on villages, displaced persons’ camps, and markets, highlighting ongoing challenges in distinguishing combatants from non-combatants in the region.
