A devastating airstrike on a weekly market along the Borno–Yobe border has resulted in the deaths of at least 56 people, the majority of whom were traders, while 14 others have been hospitalized.
The incident occurred on Saturday evening at Dilli Market in Yobe State, a vital regional trading hub located near the Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State.
This market serves as a primary convergence point for residents and merchants from numerous neighboring communities.
Reports indicate that several survivors are currently undergoing treatment at the Geidam Specialist Hospital.
The Public Relations Officer of the Yobe State Police Command, Dungus Abdulkarim confirmed that authorities are aware of the situation but are still in the process of verifying specific details.
He noted that while security agencies are on the ground assessing the scene, official casualty figures remain unconfirmed until proper documentation and a full situational response are completed.
In the wake of the reports, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) acknowledged conducting air operations in the region but did not initially address the civilian casualties.
A statement from Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, described the mission as a precision follow-up mop-up airstrike targeting identified terrorist locations in the Jilli axis.
The operation was part of a broader coordinated offensive with the Nigerian Army under Operation HADIN KAI, specifically aimed at neutralizing fleeing remnants and regrouping insurgent cells.
The NAF maintains that the strikes were based on credible intelligence and intended to consolidate recent gains against terrorists while restricting their operational capacity.
However, the official military statement made no mention of the market or the reported civilian deaths.
