At least 56 people, mostly traders, are feared dead after a military airstrike mistakenly hit a crowded weekly market along the Borno–Yobe border.
The tragic incident occurred on Saturday at Jilli Market, situated between Gubio in Borno State and Geidam in Yobe State, where civilians had gathered for routine trading activities.
Eyewitness reports indicate that four fighter jets were deployed for the operation, targeting suspected Boko Haram fighters believed to have infiltrated the market to collect money and supplies from traders.
However, the strike missed its intended targets and instead unleashed devastation on innocent civilians.
In the chaos that followed, many attempted to flee for safety as the jets opened fire, but the bombardment reportedly continued, leaving scores dead and many others critically injured.
Victims numbering between 14 and 20 were rushed to the Specialist Hospital in Geidam for urgent medical attention, though several later succumbed to their injuries, further increasing the death toll.
A local councillor, Malam Lawan Zanna, confirmed the scale of the tragedy, stating, “more than 20 people were hospitalized,” while recounting how desperate civilians tried to escape the unfolding attack.
The Security Adviser to the Yobe State Governor, Brigadier General Abdulsalam Dahiru (rtd), also acknowledged the incident but clarified that the market lies within Borno State territory.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Air Force has yet to issue an official statement regarding the deadly airstrike.
