In brief
Reports indicate that a Nigerian military airstrike targeted a village market, potentially leading to a large number of civilian deaths. Initial estimates suggest fatalities may range from 10 to over 200, with conflicting accounts highlighting the need for verification. This incident exacerbates ongoing concerns surrounding military actions in a region plagued by Boko Haram violence.
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 took place near the border between Yobe and Borno states while an aircraft was said to be engaged in an operation against Islamist militants in the area, according to the Reuters news agency and local reports.The Nigerian Air Force stated it carried out 'mop-up' air strikes on 'identified terrorist locations' within the Jilli axis of Borno State on Saturday, but has not confirmed that it struck the market nor confirmed casualties.The area is at the centre of the long-running Boko Haram insurgency, which has forced more than two million people to flee their homes and killed thousands. The Nigerian Air Force's statement said follow-on strikes on Saturday were 'aimed at fleeing remnants and regrouping cells seeking to exploit the difficult terrain'.Conflicting reports have emerged regarding the number of casualties as a result of the strike on the market. Citing a councillor, Lawan Zanna Nur Geidam, in Yobe's Geidam district, as well as three residents and an official from an international humanitarian agency, news agency Reuters said at least 200 people had been killed. 'It's a very devastating incident,' said Zanna Nur Geidam, who added that the injured had been taken to hospitals in Yobe and Borno.Other Nigerian outlets reported varying numbers: the Sun and Punch suggested 10 deaths, while the Daily Trust noted that an eyewitness said at least 56 people had died, with 14 others hospitalized. The Jilli weekly market typically attracts traders and buyers from surrounding communities.In a statement on Facebook on Sunday, the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency acknowledged receiving 'preliminary reports' of casualties at Jilli Market, stating that emergency response mechanisms had been 'immediately evacuated' to the area while adding that the details regarding the nature of the incident remain unverified.Brigadier General Dahiru Abdulsalam confirmed that some residents from Geidam Local Government Area who visited the market were affected. Ahmed Ali, a 43-year-old market trader, recounted his frightening experience during the blast, stating, 'I became so scared and attempted to run away, but a friend dragged me, and we all lay on the ground.'Amnesty International condemned the airstrike, claiming it killed 'over 100 people' and criticized the military's methods, stating, 'Launching air raids is not a legitimate law enforcement method by anyone's standard.' This incident highlights the ongoing challenges and risks involved with military operations against insurgents in a region already struggling with violence and humanitarian crises.
