A Nigerian Air Force airstrike has reportedly killed up to 200 civilians in northeastern Yobe State, after a strike targeting Boko Haram militants hit a local market instead.
Local officials and residents said the attack struck the Jilli weekly market, where large numbers of civilians had gathered. A local councillor estimated the death toll could be as high as 200, while other reports suggest at least 100 fatalities, with dozens more injured.
The Nigerian military said the strike was aimed at a “terrorist enclave”, noting that the area is frequently used by militants. However, rights groups and witnesses say many of those killed were civilians, including children, raising concerns over intelligence failures.
Officials have launched an investigation into the incident, as humanitarian agencies respond to the aftermath. The strike is the latest in a series of accidental air raids in Nigeria’s fight against insurgent groups, which have previously resulted in hundreds of civilian deaths over the years.
