Civilians are feared to have died after reports that Nigerian military jets struck a village market in the north-east of the country. The attack occurred near the border between Yobe and Borno states during an operation against Islamist militants, according to local reports and the Reuters news agency. The Nigerian Air Force acknowledged conducting mop-up air strikes in the area but did not confirm that the market was targeted nor provided casualty figures. This region has been plagued by a long-standing Boko Haram insurgency, which has led to the displacement of more than two million people and the deaths of thousands.
Conflicting reports have surfaced regarding the casualties. A councillor and several residents indicated that at least 200 people might have been killed, while other news outlets reported numbers as low as 10. Witnesses described the incident as devastating, and hospitals in Yobe and Borno states were reported to be treating dozens of injured.
In an official statement, Yobe State Emergency Management Agency confirmed it had received preliminary reports of the incident but noted that details were still unverified. Residents who went to the Jilli market, known for attracting traders and buyers from nearby areas, were among those affected by the strike. Ahmed Ali, a market trader, shared his harrowing experience of the blast.
Human rights group Amnesty International condemned the air strike, asserting that it constituted an unlawful and reckless use of force. The organization emphasized the need for accountability while underscoring the tragic reality of military operations that consistently endanger civilian lives in the northeast.
Conflicting reports have surfaced regarding the casualties. A councillor and several residents indicated that at least 200 people might have been killed, while other news outlets reported numbers as low as 10. Witnesses described the incident as devastating, and hospitals in Yobe and Borno states were reported to be treating dozens of injured.
In an official statement, Yobe State Emergency Management Agency confirmed it had received preliminary reports of the incident but noted that details were still unverified. Residents who went to the Jilli market, known for attracting traders and buyers from nearby areas, were among those affected by the strike. Ahmed Ali, a market trader, shared his harrowing experience of the blast.
Human rights group Amnesty International condemned the air strike, asserting that it constituted an unlawful and reckless use of force. The organization emphasized the need for accountability while underscoring the tragic reality of military operations that consistently endanger civilian lives in the northeast.
