- Survivors Reject Claims, Describe Jilli Market Airstrike as Devastating Attack
- Military operation reportedly involved multiple fighter jets in Borno State border community
- Governor Zulum says market was closed years earlier due to security concerns
Survivors of the recent military airstrike on Jilli market in Borno State have said they were legitimate animal traders carrying out normal business activities when the incident occurred, describing the attack as sudden and devastating.
The incident reportedly happened on April 11, 2026, when the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, in coordination with the Nigerian Army, carried out an operation on the weekly market located in Jilli village along the Borno–Yobe border.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that earlier reports indicated that no fewer than 30 people were feared killed as explosions forced traders and residents to flee in panic.
One of the survivors, Abu Goni, told Punch that the strike occurred shortly after Maghrib prayers while trading was still ongoing.
He said he had gone to the market with his horse when the attack began unexpectedly.
“I went to the market with my horse. All of a sudden, a jet came. I didn’t even know what was going on, and everyone there did not pay attention to the jet,” he said.
Goni insisted the market had no links to insurgent activities, describing it as a regular livestock trading point.
“To be honest, I am not aware of that. Around six years ago, soldiers once settled there, but now it’s just a normal market where we sell domestic animals,” he said.
Another survivor, Bulama Balo, alleged that multiple fighter jets were involved in the operation, saying they appeared to take turns during the strike.
“Three jets came, sometimes three, sometimes two. They were interchanging. The first one came, dropped fire, the second one came and dropped its own too,” he said.
Balo added that survivors fled to Maigumeri community after the incident and later received medical attention.
“Around 3 o’clock in the night after the incident, we went to Maigumeri and slept there. Around 9 o’clock this morning, we went to the General Hospital,” he said.
He also stated that some injured victims were later referred to a teaching hospital for further treatment.
Meanwhile, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum said the Jilli market had been closed about five years earlier. In a statement, he explained that the closure was part of security measures due to alleged insurgent use of the area as a logistics hub.
Zulum added that he had been briefed on the incident and was engaging with the Yobe State Government and military authorities over the situation, while reaffirming the state’s commitment to supporting security operations and protecting civilians.
