Nigerian Air Force Airstrike Mistakenly Hits Market in Yobe State, Over 100 Civilians Feared Dead
A Nigerian Air Force airstrike targeting suspected Islamist militants has mistakenly struck a local market in Yobe State, northeastern Nigeria, resulting in the deaths of more than 100 civilians, according to local reports and human rights groups.
The strike occurred on Saturday in a village near the border with Borno State, an area heavily affected by the ongoing insurgency involving Boko Haram and other armed groups.
Witnesses and Amnesty International said the bombing hit a crowded marketplace, killing men, women, and children and injuring dozens more. The Nigerian military said the operation was aimed at militant positions but acknowledged a “misfire” and has launched an investigation into the incident.
Authorities have not yet provided full details on how the error occurred. Human rights organizations have called for a transparent and independent inquiry, noting that similar accidental strikes on civilian areas have occurred in Nigeria’s northeast during counterinsurgency operations.
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