Over 50 Dead, Many Injured as Suspected Military Airstrike Hits Market Near Borno-Yobe Border

Dozens of people, most of them traders, are feared dead after a suspected military airstrike struck a crowded weekly market along the Borno–Yobe border on Saturday, in what witnesses have described as a devastating mistake.

The incident occurred at Jilli Market, a bustling trading hub located between Gubio in Borno State and Geidam in Yobe State. The market is known to attract large numbers of traders and buyers from surrounding communities, a factor that appears to have worsened the scale of the tragedy.

Local sources said the airstrike was believed to be part of an operation targeting suspected Boko Haram insurgents reportedly present in the area to collect levies and gather supplies. However, the strike is feared to have missed its intended targets, instead hitting civilians in the heart of the busy marketplace.

Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of panic and confusion as the attack unfolded at about 2:46 p.m., at the peak of trading activities.

“We suddenly heard loud explosions, and people began running in all directions,” one witness said. “The strikes did not stop immediately. I counted at least 56 bodies myself and helped carry the injured to hospital. There may be more casualties as search efforts continue.”

Medical personnel confirmed that at least 14 injured victims were initially taken to the Specialist Hospital in Geidam, while some were later referred to the Teaching Hospital in Damaturu for further treatment due to the severity of their injuries.

Local authorities have also acknowledged the incident. A ward councillor, Malam Lawan Zanna, said early reports suggested more than 30 people had died, with over 20 others hospitalised. Some of the injured, he added, later succumbed to their wounds.

Yobe State’s Special Adviser on Security, Brigadier General Abdulsalam Dahiru (retd), confirmed the occurrence but noted that the market falls within Borno State’s jurisdiction.

As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Air Force has yet to release an official statement on the incident, which has left communities in mourning and raised fresh concerns about civilian safety in conflict-affected areas.