Over 200 Civilians Feared Dead As Military Airstrike Hits Yobe Market

Over 200 Civilians Feared Dead As Military Airstrike Hits Yobe Market

Fears are mounting that more than 200 people may have been killed after a Nigerian military airstrike struck a busy market in Yobe State during an operation targeting insurgents in the North-East.

The incident occurred on Saturday night at a weekly market in Jilli, a border community between Yobe and Borno states, according to local officials and residents.

A councillor and traditional leader in the area, Lawan Zanna Nur Geidam, described the attack as devastating, saying the casualty figure could be staggering.

“It’s a very devastating incident at Jilli Market. As I’m speaking to you, over 200 people have lost their lives from the airstrike,” he said.

Several residents and a humanitarian worker also confirmed the strike, with reports indicating that many of the victims were traders and villagers who had gathered for the market.

The Nigerian Air Force, however, said it carried out an operation targeting fighters of the Boko Haram in the Jilli axis of neighbouring Borno State, but did not confirm hitting a civilian location.

In a related development, the Yobe State Government acknowledged that an airstrike took place near the market, noting that residents from Geidam Local Government Area who attended the weekly trading event were affected.

Brigadier General Dahiru Abdulsalam, military adviser to the state government, said: “Some people from Geidam LGA bordering Gubio LGA in Borno State who went to the Jilli weekly market were affected.”

Emergency response teams have since been deployed to the area, with the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) confirming it had received initial reports of casualties and activated rescue operations.

Injured victims were said to have been evacuated to hospitals in both Yobe and Borno states for urgent medical attention.

One of the survivors, Ahmed Ali, who trades in medical supplies, recounted his ordeal from a hospital bed.

“I became so scared and attempted to run away, but a friend dragged me and we all lay on the ground,” he said.

The affected area lies within a conflict zone that has witnessed years of violence linked to insurgent groups, with thousands killed and millions displaced across the North-East.

The latest incident is expected to raise fresh concerns over civilian safety during military operations, especially in densely populated areas where residents and traders often gather.

Authorities have yet to provide a definitive casualty figure as rescue efforts continue and more details emerge.

Source: Reuters