A suspected military airstrike has left devastation in northern Nigeria, with at least 56 people feared dead and many others injured after bombs struck Jilli Market, a busy weekly trading hub between Gubio in Borno State and Geidam in Yobe State.

The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon while trading was in full swing. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as explosions ripped through the market around 2:46 p.m., sending traders and buyers fleeing in panic. One witness claimed to have counted 56 bodies and assisted in transporting injured victims to nearby hospitals.

Medical sources confirmed that at least 14 injured individuals were taken to Geidam Specialist Hospital, with some later referred to Damaturu Teaching Hospital for advanced treatment. Local officials, including ward councillor Malam Lawan Zanna, reported over 30 deaths initially, noting that more victims succumbed to injuries afterward.

Authorities say the airstrike was part of an operation targeting suspected Boko Haram insurgents believed to be extorting traders and collecting levies at the market. However, the strike reportedly missed its intended targets, hitting civilians instead.

Yobe State’s Special Adviser on Security, Brigadier General Abdulsalam Dahiru (rtd), acknowledged the tragedy but clarified that the affected market lies within Borno State territory.

As of reporting time, the Nigerian Air Force has not issued an official statement. The incident has sparked outrage and grief, with calls for accountability and urgent measures to prevent civilian casualties in counterinsurgency operations.

This tragedy underscores the human cost of Nigeria’s ongoing battle against insurgency and raises pressing questions about the protection of civilians in conflict zones.