Emmanuel Azubuike
More than 200 people are feared dead following an airstrike by Nigerian military jets that reportedly struck a busy market in Yobe State, in what is believed to be a mistaken attack during operations against insurgents.
According to reports from Reuters on Sunday, the incident happened on Saturday night. Information from local officials, residents, and humanitarian sources indicates that the strike hit civilians gathered at the Jilli weekly market.
While the military confirmed carrying out an aerial operation targeting Boko Haram fighters in the Jilli axis of neighbouring Borno State, it did not admit to hitting a civilian market, maintaining that the mission was part of ongoing counterinsurgency efforts.
However, Brigadier General Dahiru Abdulsalam, a military adviser to the Yobe State Government, acknowledged that civilians were affected. He explained that individuals from Geidam Local Government Area, near the Borno border, had travelled to the market and were caught in the strike.
A local councillor, Lawan Zanna Nur Geidam, described the incident as deeply devastating, estimating that the number of casualties could exceed 200.
Emergency officials have also responded. The Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) confirmed receiving early reports of the attack, noting that traders were among the victims and that response efforts are underway.
The tragedy comes amid intensified government actions against terrorism financing. Just a day earlier, authorities released a list of 48 individuals and organisations allegedly linked to funding insurgency, as part of broader efforts to weaken armed groups.
In a separate development, Nigerian courts recently secured convictions against hundreds of individuals connected to militant groups, highlighting the government’s continued crackdown on insurgency.
Reacting to the airstrike, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar condemned the incident, calling it both tragic and unacceptable. He questioned the repeated loss of civilian lives during military operations, asking how long Nigerians would remain vulnerable to both insurgents and the forces meant to protect them.
He also extended condolences to affected families, stressing that safeguarding citizens must remain the primary responsibility of the government.
Civilian casualties linked to military airstrikes have remained a troubling pattern in Nigeria’s fight against insurgency. Past incidents—including the 2017 bombing of a displacement camp in Rann and more recent strikes in Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Nasarawa—have raised concerns over intelligence accuracy and operational coordination.
Since 2017, such incidents are estimated to have claimed the lives of over 400 civilians, reinforcing calls for improved precision and accountability in military operations.