Manny Ita –
At least 200 people are feared dead following a Nigerian military airstrike that reportedly struck a market in Yobe State, according to local officials and humanitarian sources.
The incident occurred on Saturday night, with reports indicating that the strike hit a weekly market in Jilli, near the border area between Yobe and Borno State. The operation was said to be part of ongoing counterinsurgency efforts targeting Boko Haram fighters.
Military authorities confirmed conducting an air operation in the Jilli axis but did not acknowledge that civilians were affected. However, Brigadier General Dahiru Abdulsalam, military adviser to the Yobe State Government, stated that individuals attending the market were impacted.
A local councillor, Lawan Zanna Nur Geidam, said the death toll could exceed 200, describing the incident as devastating. Emergency responders, including the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency, confirmed receiving initial reports and said casualties included traders and residents, with response efforts underway.
The development has drawn criticism from political figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who described the incident as a grave failure and called for greater accountability in protecting civilians during military operations.
The strike comes amid intensified efforts by Nigerian authorities to combat insurgency and disrupt terrorism financing networks. Recent measures include the publication of a sanctions list targeting suspected financiers and mass trials of individuals linked to militant groups.
Incidents involving civilian casualties from air operations have been reported in previous years, raising concerns about intelligence accuracy and operational coordination in Nigeria’s counterinsurgency campaign.
