KEY POINTS

• Over 200 people are feared dead after a Nigerian airstrike hit a market in Yobe State during an operation against insurgents.
• The Nigerian Air Force has launched an investigation into the reported civilian casualties.
• Emergency responders are treating the injured as authorities assess the scale of the devastation.

More than 200 people are feared dead after a Nigerian military airstrike hit a crowded market in northeastern Yobe State, triggering outrage and an official investigation.

The incident occurred on Saturday night when jets of the Nigerian Air Force reportedly targeted suspected insurgents but struck a civilian market in the Jilli area near the border with Borno State.

In response to reports of heavy civilian losses, the Nigerian Air Force said it had activated its Civilian Harm Accident and Investigation Cell to carry out a fact-finding mission at the scene.

Earlier, the military had announced that it conducted operations against Boko Haram militants in the area, but subsequent reports indicated that civilians were among those affected.

Local officials confirm high death toll

A local councillor and traditional leader, Lawan Zanna Nur Geidam, described the incident as devastating, stating that over 200 people were killed in the strike.

He added that many of the injured had been transported to hospitals across Yobe and neighbouring Borno for treatment.

Other residents and a humanitarian agency official also confirmed the scale of the casualties following the attack.

The Yobe State Emergency Management Agency said it had received initial reports of the incident and had activated emergency response measures.

Authorities noted that many of the victims were traders and shoppers who had gathered at the weekly market from nearby communities, including Geidam Local Government Area.

One survivor, a trader identified as Ahmed Ali, recounted how he narrowly escaped death after being caught in the blast and taking cover with others.

The airstrike occurred in a region long affected by insurgency, raising fresh concerns about civilian safety during military operations.