Bombs rained on fleeing terrorists suspected of hiding at the Jilli market in a boundary community straddling Yobe and Borno states at the weekend.
Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum said the market was notorious for harbouring insurgents and their logistics suppliers.
But the precision military operation against insurgents in the Northeast spiralled into controversy over reports of heavy civilian casualties.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) confirmed carrying out the strike, but has come under scrutiny amid claims that the operation affected civilians in Jilli.
Jilli is a boundary community between the Gubio Local Government Area of Borno and the Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe.
While military authorities insist the target was a terrorist enclave, local accounts suggest that a thriving market frequented by traders may have been caught in the crossfire, leaving many feared dead and several others injured.
The incident occurred on Saturday evening.
The market, known for attracting cross-border traders, was said to be bustling at the time of the strike.
Local sources and hospital officials indicated that casualties ran high, although the exact number remains unclear.
Some reports suggested that scores of civilians may have been killed, with over 20 others injured.
Medical personnel at Geidam Specialist Hospital said the facility was overwhelmed by the influx of the injured, forcing emergency responders to transport many of them to the Specialist Hospital in Damaturu for advanced treatment.
“More than seven vehicles carrying injured persons were conveyed to Damaturu.
“The emergency ward is filled, and some victims are being treated inside vehicles,” a hospital source said.
Other casualties were reportedly taken to health facilities in nearby communities, including parts of Borno State.
Eyewitnesses claimed that suspected insurgents fleeing military pursuit had entered the market shortly before the strike.
“We saw three aircraft. One of them fired at the market. Many people were there trading,” a resident said, although the account could not be independently verified.
The Saturday night attack followed the attack by insurgents on a military camp in Benishekh, where a brigade of the Operation Hardin-Kai was attacked, and two military officers and two soldiers were killed before the insurgents were repelled.
The brigade commander is believed to be among those killed.
Military insists target a terrorist hub
The military maintained that the operation was intelligence-driven and targeted a known terrorist logistics hub near the abandoned village of Jilli.
The Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI, said the strike followed sustained Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions over the Bindul–Jilli axis, a known corridor for insurgent movement.
It said intelligence reports confirmed the movement of suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters, including gun trucks and motorcycles, converging on the location.
“Upon final validation, the Air Component executed a series of precision strikes on the objective.
“Scores of terrorists were neutralised, while their vehicles and logistics were destroyed,” the statement said.
The military added that the operation disrupted imminent attacks being planned against troops in the area.
Zulum warns against aiding insurgents
Zulum warned residents against aiding, harbouring, or providing logistical support to Boko Haram insurgents.
In a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dauda Iliya, Zulum described Jilli market as a notorious hub used by insurgents and their logistics suppliers.
He said: “I have been properly briefed on the airstrike carried out by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai on Jilli market, a boundary town between Borno and Yobe states.
“Let me state categorically that the Borno State Government closed Jilli and Gazabure markets five years ago.
“I am in close consultation with the Government of Yobe State and the military hierarchy on the matter.”
Zulum explained that the Borno State Government maintains close coordination with the military and other security agencies before resettling any community or reopening markets, particularly in areas affected by insurgency.
He reiterated his administration’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding law-abiding citizens and sustaining collaborative efforts with security agencies to restore lasting peace and stability across the state.
The governor urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that will aid ongoing military operations.
NAF confirms strike, orders investigation
NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, confirmed that the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI carried out what he described as “precision follow-up mop-up air strikes” on identified terrorist locations within the Jilli axis on April 11.
He, however, acknowledged reports of possible civilian casualties and said the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has ordered an immediate investigation.
According to Ejodame, the Civilian Harm Accident and Investigation Cell (CHAI-Cell) has been activated to undertake a fact-finding mission at the location.
“The Nigerian Air Force treats all reports of possible civilian harm with the utmost seriousness and empathy, as the protection of innocent lives remains central to all its operations,” he said.
He added that the service remains committed to professionalism, accountability, and transparency, urging the public and media to avoid speculation while investigations are ongoing.
Suspect in Benisheik attack arrested
The military said a suspected terrorist logistics courier, identified as “Turja Bulu,” was arrested on April 12 in Ngamdu.
According to the Theatre Command, the suspect confessed to participating in the April 9 attack in Benisheik and providing logistics support to insurgents operating within the Magumeri–Gubio axis.
The arrest, the military said, is part of ongoing efforts to dismantle terrorist networks and cut off supply chains sustaining insurgency in the region.
The command also reiterated the ban on the use of motorcycles across the Northeast operational theatre, noting that insurgents frequently use them for mobility and logistics.
Atiku demands accountability
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar condemned the reported civilian casualties.
He described the incident as a tragic failure that raises serious concerns about civilian protection during military operations.
In a statement, Atiku questioned the continued loss of innocent lives in the course of security interventions.
“While targeting insurgents, innocent Nigerians were once again reduced to collateral damage.
“How long will citizens remain unsafe both from terrorists and from the very operations meant to protect them?” he said.
He called for an urgent review of operational strategies and demanded accountability, stressing that safeguarding civilian lives must remain the primary responsibility of the government.
Atiku also extended condolences to affected families and urged authorities to take concrete steps to prevent a recurrence.
Nationwide operations yield arrests, rescues
Amid the controversy, the Army reported significant gains in ongoing nationwide operations against terrorism and criminality.
In an operational update, the army said troops neutralised scores of terrorists, arrested over 60 suspects, and rescued at least 50 kidnapped victims in coordinated operations across multiple regions.
In the Northeast, troops of Operation HADIN KAI conducted air and ground offensives against ISWAP and Boko Haram elements, destroying logistics bases and neutralising fighters.
Troops also apprehended suspected informants and logistics suppliers in Borno and Yobe states, recovering cash, fuel, mobile devices, and communication equipment.
In Adamawa State, troops raided criminal hideouts, arresting 20 suspects and rescuing kidnapped victims.
Operations in the Northwest and Northcentral zones, including Sokoto, Kebbi, Plateau, and Kogi states, led to the rescue of abducted persons and the dismantling of criminal enclaves.
In Kogi, a suspect was neutralised while attempting to escape during interrogation, while troops destroyed several hideouts linked to armed groups.
The army also reported foiled attacks on communities, recovery of rustled cattle, and ongoing clearance operations in volatile areas.
In the Southsouth, troops of Operation Delta Safe thwarted a kidnapping attempt in Delta State, rescued victims, and recovered ransom money and operational vehicles.
They also intercepted suspected oil vandals at a facility in Sapele as part of efforts to curb crude oil theft.
