…Military defends airstrike
A suspected Nigerian military airstrike on a crowded market along the Borno–Yobe border has triggered outrage and confusion, with conflicting casualty figures and a firm defence from the military that the location was a terrorist hub.
The strike hit Jilli village in Gubio local government area of Borno State on Saturday afternoon, targeting what the military described as a key logistics base for Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters.
However, witnesses and local officials say the attack struck the bustling Jilli Market at peak trading hours, killing scores of civilians.
Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of chaos as explosions ripped through the busy marketplace around 2:46 p.m., sending traders and buyers fleeing in panic. “I counted at least 56 bodies myself”, one resident said, adding that many more were injured and rushed to nearby hospitals.
Initial reports from local authorities put the death toll at over 30, with more than 20 injured—some of whom later died. Medical sources confirmed that victims were taken to the Specialist Hospital in Geidam and the Teaching Hospital in Damaturu for treatment.
However, other accounts suggest a far higher toll. Some residents and officials fear that as many as 200 civilians may have been killed, raising concerns about one of the deadliest incidents in the region in recent times.
The Nigerian Army, in an issued statement yesterday, defended the operation, insisting it was based on credible intelligence and sustained surveillance of the Bindul–Jilli axis, long identified as a major corridor for terrorist movement.
According to Lt. Col. Sanni Uba of ‘Operation Haɗin Kai’, intelligence reports indicated that ISWAP fighters had converged on the area with gun trucks and motorcycles, prompting a “precision strike” by the Air Component.
“Scores of terrorists were neutralised, their vehicles destroyed, and surviving elements fled in multiple directions,” Uba said, adding that the operation disrupted imminent attacks and weakened insurgent capabilities.
The military also reiterated restrictions on motorcycle movements in the North-East, warning that violations in conflict zones could attract decisive action.
Despite the defence, the incident has sparked renewed concerns about civilian safety in Nigeria’s conflict-hit northeast, where insurgency has persisted for over a decade.
The Nigerian Air Force has yet to issue a detailed public statement specifically addressing the reported civilian casualties, though indications suggest an investigation may be underway.
