No fewer than 30 people are feared dead following a military airstrike that hit a bustling weekly market in Jilli village, a community situated along the border between Borno and Yobe states.
The tragic incident occurred on Saturday evening at the popular Jilli Market, located between Gubio in Borno State and Geidam in Yobe State, sending shockwaves across surrounding communities.
Eyewitnesses reported that the airstrike happened around 4:00 p.m., at a time when the market was filled with traders and residents engaged in commercial activities.
Multiple explosions were said to have rocked the area, triggering panic and chaos.
A local councillor, Lawan Zannah, confirmed the casualty figures in a telephone interview, stating that over 30 people had been killed, while more than 20 others sustained injuries and were rushed to nearby medical facilities.
“From the information available to us, it was an airstrike. Over 30 people have been confirmed dead, and more than 20 were hospitalised,” he said.
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However, eyewitness accounts suggest the death toll could be significantly higher.
“I counted 56 corpses myself, and more bodies are still being recovered,” one witness disclosed.
Sources within the community indicated that the airstrike may have been targeted at suspected Boko Haram insurgents believed to have gathered in the area. Unfortunately, the bombs reportedly struck the crowded market, resulting in heavy civilian casualties
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The Jilli weekly market is known to attract large numbers of traders from nearby communities including Gubio, Chiweram, Benisheikh, Gurokayeya, and Geidam, making it a major commercial hub in the region.
Reacting to the incident, the Special Adviser to the Yobe State Governor on Security Matters, Brigadier General Abdulsalam Dahiru (retd.), confirmed the occurrence but clarified that Jilli village falls under Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Air Force has not issued an official statement regarding the airstrike.
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