By 𝔸bdulrazak Tomiwa

An airstrike by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) reportedly struck the Dilli Market, located on the border between Borno and Yobe States, on Saturday evening.

The incident resulted in numerous civilian casualties and significant injuries among traders and shoppers present at the busy commercial hub.

The Yobe State Police Command confirmed the development, though official casualty figures remain unavailable as of Sunday. Security agencies have been deployed to the scene to assess the situation and ensure proper documentation of the victims while the local community remains in a state of shock.

Dilli Market is a vital economic center that attracts residents from several nearby communities, including Giedam, Gubio, and Chibok. The strike occurred during a period of high activity, leaving many local families searching for loved ones who had gone to the market for their weekly supplies.

Local sources indicate that the military operation was intended to target Boko Haram insurgents known to operate in the area. These insurgents reportedly frequent the market to forcibly collect levies from traders and gather food supplies to sustain their activities in the surrounding forests.

Witnesses suggested that the fighter jet was tracking specific insurgent movements but may have missed its intended target, hitting the civilian crowd instead. Reports from the ground indicate that at least 10 people may have been killed, with dozens of others sustaining various degrees of injury.

Emergency response efforts are currently underway, with injured victims being rushed to hospitals in Giedam and Damaturu for urgent medical treatment.

The Nigerian Air Force has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the incident or the circumstances surrounding the mission.