Civilians feared killed after reports of air strike on Nigerian market

Civilians feared killed after reports of air strike on Nigerian market

Reports of an air strike targeting a market in the northern-eastern region of Nigeria have sparked fears of civilian casualties. The incident occurred near the border of Yobe and Borno states, where military jets were reportedly engaged in operations against Islamist militants, as noted by Reuters and local media. The Nigerian Air Force stated it conducted “mop-up” strikes on “identified terrorist locations” along the Jilli axis in Borno State on Saturday, though it has not officially confirmed hitting the market or reporting deaths.

The area, central to the ongoing Boko Haram conflict, has seen frequent attacks that displace communities and claim hundreds of lives. Conflicting accounts have emerged regarding the toll of the strike. According to a local councillor, Lawan Zanna Nur Geidam, and three residents, as well as an international humanitarian official, at least 200 people were killed. However, other sources, including the Sun and Punch newspapers, cited lower figures, reporting 10 fatalities and several injuries. An eyewitness, quoted by the Daily Trust, suggested 56 deaths and 14 hospitalisations.

“It’s a very devastating incident,” said Zanna Nur Geidam, noting that injured individuals were transported to hospitals in Yobe and Borno states.

Ahmed Ali, a 43-year-old market vendor, described the blast to Reuters. “I became so scared and attempted to run away, but a friend dragged me and we all lay on the ground,” he recounted. The Yobe State Emergency Management Agency shared preliminary findings on Facebook, confirming an incident at Jilli Market in Gubio local government area, which “resulted in casualties affecting some marketers.” The agency added that response teams were deployed, but details of the event and casualties remain unclear.

Brigadier General Dahiru Abdulsalam, representing Yobe state, mentioned that some residents from the neighboring Geidam LGA, bordering Borno state, were impacted. “People from Geidam LGA who went to the Jilli weekly market were affected,” he stated. Amnesty International’s Nigeria branch criticised the strike, alleging it killed “over 100 people.” A post on X called the use of air raids “unlawful, outrageous, and revealing the military’s shocking disregard for civilian lives.”

Nigeria’s northeast has witnessed multiple instances where military air operations against Islamist groups have accidentally struck civilians, including markets, villages, and refugee camps. The incident at Jilli Market adds to this pattern of unintended harm, raising questions about the precision of such strikes in densely populated areas.