Dozens of people were reportedly killed following alleged airstrikes by Nigerian military aircraft in Jilli village, Yobe State, as operations targeted jihadist fighters in the area.

The incident, said to have occurred on Saturday, reportedly left a high number of casualties, with local sources suggesting that more than 100 people may have died, while total casualties, including the injured, were estimated to be close to 200.

Additional victims were also reported to have died in hospitals in Geidam and Maiduguri following the incident. Some local accounts indicated that traders at a market in the area were among those affected.

The Nigerian military reportedly conducted the operation as part of an intelligence-driven mission targeting what it described as a major terrorist corridor and logistics hub used by fighters linked to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province.

The area, including the Jilli market, was alleged to be under the control of insurgents who reportedly provided security and collected taxes from traders operating within the location.

While the operation was said to have targeted militants, reports of civilian casualties emerged from residents and local sources, adding to concerns over the impact of airstrikes in conflict zones.

Nigeria has faced a prolonged insurgency in its northeastern region since Boko Haram’s uprising in 2009, with the conflict later expanding through splinter groups such as ISWAP.

The violence has resulted in over 40,000 deaths and displaced around two million people, according to United Nations estimates.

Recent developments indicate a renewed escalation of attacks by insurgent groups seeking to expand territorial influence.

In response, Nigeria has intensified counterterrorism operations, secured terrorism-related convictions in hundreds of cases, and received technical and training support from foreign partners as part of broader efforts to address the ongoing security crisis.