MAIDUGURI, Nigeria – A devastating military airstrike targeting Islamic extremists instead hit civilians at a village marketplace in northeastern Nigeria, with local officials reporting approximately 200 people may have died in the Saturday evening attack.
The tragic incident unfolded in a Yobe state community located along the border with Borno state, according to area council members and local residents who spoke out Sunday. Nigerian air force aircraft were conducting operations against militant groups when the strike occurred at the busy market.
The affected region sits at the center of a prolonged conflict with insurgent forces that has claimed thousands of lives and forced millions of people from their homes over many years. The border area between Yobe and Borno states has been particularly hard hit by the ongoing violence and military operations.
