A Nigerian air force strike targeting suspected jihadist rebels has hit a crowded market in northeastern Nigeria, killing more than 100 civilians and injuring many others, according to Amnesty International and local media reports cited by the Associated Press.
The incident reportedly took place on Saturday in Yobe state near the border with Borno, a region long plagued by insurgency.
Officials confirm ‘failure’
Authorities acknowledged the strike had gone badly but provided limited details. The Yobe state government said the operation targeted a Boko Haram stronghold, but confirmed that civilians at the weekly Jilli market were among those affected.
Survivor accounts and death toll
Amnesty International said it had verified from survivors that at least 100 people were killed in the attack. “We are in contact with the people who are there… we have spoken to the hospital… and the victims,” Amnesty Nigeria director Isa Sanusi told the AP, suggesting the scale of casualties could be significant.
Targeting militants near the market
Local security sources said intelligence information indicated that Boko Haram fighters had gathered near the market and were allegedly planning an attack on nearby communities. “Information was shared and the Air Force aircraft acted on credible information,” said a member of a civilian security group working with the military.
The military is preventing the operation
The Nigerian military claimed to have carried out a successful attack on a “terrorist enclave and logistics hub”, claiming several militants were killed while riding motorcycles. However, it did not directly address reports of civilian casualties or the alleged failure to fire.
Emergency response underway
The Yobe State Emergency Management Agency confirmed the casualties and said response teams had been dispatched to the area. Authorities have urged residents to remain calm as rescue and medical efforts continue.
Conflict-affected area
The strike took place in an unstable zone where insurgent activity has persisted for more than ten years. Nigeria continues to face a complex security crisis involving several armed groups, including Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State, West Africa Province (ISWAP), which operates in the northeast of the country.
Ongoing insecurity in Northern Nigeria
Africa’s most populous nation faces overlapping threats, from a jihadist insurgency in the northeast to armed bandits and kidnappings in other northern regions. The latest incident underscores the risks of military operations in densely populated or civilian-adjacent areas, particularly where militant groups operate close to local communities.
This is a developing story.
