Civilians are feared to have died after reports indicated that Nigerian military jets struck a village market in the north-east of the country.
The attack took place near the border between Yobe and Borno states during operations targeting Islamist militants, according to Reuters and local reports.
The Nigerian Air Force stated it executed mop-up air strikes on identified terrorist locations in the Jilli axis of Borno State on Saturday but has not confirmed that it struck the market or the resulting casualties.
This area is significant due to the Boko Haram insurgency that has displaced over two million people and resulted in thousands of deaths.
The Nigerian Air Force declared that subsequent strikes aimed at eliminating remnants and regrouping cells using the difficult terrain for concealment.
Conflicting casualty reports have surfaced from the incident, with Councillor Lawan Zanna Nur Geidam reporting at least 200 deaths based on feedback from residents and humanitarian officials.
Descriptions of the incident's devastation have been echoed within the local community, with the injured being rushed to hospitals in both Yobe and Borno.
Local news outlets, however, reported figures as low as 10 fatalities, while others noted that 56 individuals were confirmed dead based on eyewitness accounts.
The market, a regular gathering spot for traders and buyers from nearby communities, was reportedly bustling at the time of the air strike.
The Yobe State Emergency Management Agency indicated it had received initial reports of casualties from the Jilli Market incident, but clarified that the situation remains under assessment for verification.
Military officials confirmed that some residents from Geidam affected by the strike were among those participating in the marketplace activity.
Ahmed Ali, a market trader who was injured in the explosion, recounted his experience, highlighting moments of panic and fear among the crowd.
Human rights organization Amnesty International criticized the air strike for causing significant civilian casualties, labeling such military actions as unlawful and reckless.
This incident reiterates ongoing concerns surrounding military air operations in northeastern Nigeria, where civilian casualties during conflicts with insurgent groups have become distressingly common.
