Air Strike Kills Dozens in Northeastern Nigerian Village

Nigerian Military Aircraft Strike Market in Jilli Village, Leaving Over 100 Dead

A military aircraft strike on a market in Jilli village, Yobe state, has resulted in over 100 deaths and 35 injuries, according to Amnesty International. The attack occurred while Nigerian military forces were pursuing members of the rebel group Boko Haram.

Local official Lawan Zanna Nur Geidam reported that the total casualties, dead and injured, are around 200. The strike took place on the Jilli axis in Borno state, an area affected by a long-running rebellion that has resulted in thousands of deaths and millions of displacements.

Nigeria’s Air Force stated that it conducted an air strike on the Jilli axis, killing Boko Haram fighters. However, the government of Yobe state later reported that the strike occurred near a market where people were attending.

The Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) activated its emergency response after receiving preliminary reports of the incident at the Jilli market. Many of the injured were taken to hospitals in nearby Geidam and Maiduguri, with at least 23 people receiving treatment.

Amnesty International condemned the strike, stating that “launching air raids is not a legitimate law enforcement method.” The organization called on Nigerian authorities to investigate the incident and hold suspected perpetrators accountable.

Source: Al Jazeera