Civilians feared killed after reports of air strike on Nigerian market
Civilians feared killed after reports of air strike on Nigerian market
Reports suggest that an air strike targeting Islamist militants in northern Nigeria may have resulted in civilian casualties. The incident occurred near the border between Yobe and Borno states, striking a local market in the region. According to Reuters and local news sources, the attack was part of military operations against insurgents, though the Nigerian Air Force has not officially confirmed the market was hit or the death toll.
The Nigerian military’s statement described the strikes as “mop-up” actions aimed at “identified terrorist locations” along the Jilli axis in Borno State. However, the exact location and extent of casualties remain unclear. The area is a focal point for the Boko Haram insurgency, which has displaced over two million people and caused widespread fatalities.
Conflicting casualty figures emerge
Details of the casualties are inconsistent across reports. Reuters cited a local councillor, Lawan Zanna Nur Geidam, and three residents, stating at least 200 people were killed. “It’s a very devastating incident,” Geidam remarked, noting injured individuals were taken to hospitals in Yobe and Borno. Meanwhile, other Nigerian outlets like the Sun and Punch reported 10 deaths and several injuries. The Daily Trust, however, quoted an eyewitness claiming 56 fatalities and 14 hospitalizations.
“Launching air raids is not a legitimate law enforcement method by anyone’s standard,” said a post on X from Amnesty International’s Nigeria branch. “Such reckless use of deadly force is unlawful and reveals the military’s disregard for civilian lives.”
Local authorities confirmed some residents from Yobe state who attended the market were affected. Brigadier General Dahiru Abdulsalam shared this on Facebook, specifying that individuals from Geidam Local Government Area near Borno’s Gubio region were impacted. Ahmed Ali, a 43-year-old market trader, told Reuters he was injured during the blast. “I became so scared and tried to run, but a friend pulled me down, and we lay on the ground,” he explained.
Yobe State’s Emergency Management Agency released a statement on Sunday, confirming “preliminary reports” of casualties at Jilli Market in Gubio. The agency noted emergency teams were deployed but emphasized that the incident’s specifics and casualty numbers are still unverified. The market, a hub for traders and buyers from nearby communities, has been a recurring target in recent military operations, raising concerns about collateral damage.
Nigeria’s northeast has witnessed multiple instances where military air strikes accidentally hit civilian areas. These include villages, refugee camps, and markets, underscoring the ongoing challenge of distinguishing combatants from non-combatants in the region.
