Civilians feared killed after reports of air strike on Nigerian market

Civilians feared killed after reports of air strike on Nigerian market19 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleChris Ewokor,Abuja, NigeriaandAmy WalkerAP Photo/Sunday AlambaMembers of Nigeria's armed forces (file picture)Civilians are feared to have died after reports 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 while an aircraft was said to be engaged in an operation against Islamist militants in the area, according to the Reuters news agency and local reports.The Nigerian Air Force said it carried out "mop-up" air strikes on "identified terrorist locations" within the Jilli axis of Borno State on Saturday, but has not confirmed that it struck the market nor confirmed casualties.The area is at the centre of the long-running Boko Haram insurgency, which has forced more than two million people to flee their homes and killed thousands. The Nigerian Air Force's statement said follow-on strikes on Saturday were "aimed at fleeing remnants and regrouping cells seeking to exploit the difficult terrain".There are conflicting reports of the number of casualties as a result of the strike on the market.Citing a councillor, Lawan Zanna Nur Geidam, in Yobe's Geidam district, as well as three residents and an official from an international humanitarian agency, news agency Reuters said at least 200 people had been killed."It's a very devastating incident," said Zanna Nur Geidam, who said the injured had been taken to hospitals in Yobe and Borno.Nigerian outlets the Sun and Punch reported sources saying that 10 people had been killed, while "several" others had sustained injuries.But newspaper the Daily Trust reported that an eyewitness said at least 56 people had died, with 14 others hospitalised. According to the outlet, the weekly market usually attracts traders and buyers from surrounding commun...