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At least 30 people are feared to have lost their lives following a military airstrike that hit a crowded weekly market in Jilli village, a border community between Borno State and Yobe State, on Saturday evening.
The strike reportedly occurred at the bustling Jilli Market, situated between Gubio and Geidam, at a time when traders and residents had gathered for routine commercial activities. The incident triggered widespread panic as explosions tore through the busy marketplace.
Confirming the development, a local councillor, Lawan Zannah, disclosed the extent of the casualties during a telephone conversation on Sunday.
He said, “From the information available to us, it was an airstrike. Over 30 people have been confirmed dead, and more than 20 were hospitalised.”
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene, noting that the attack happened at about 4:00 p.m., with multiple fighter jets allegedly involved in the operation.
One of the witnesses recounted the scale of the devastation, saying, “I counted 56 corpses myself, more bodies are still being recovered.”
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Preliminary reports suggest that the strike may have targeted suspected Boko Haram insurgents believed to be operating in the area. However, the bombs reportedly landed on the crowded market, raising concerns about civilian casualties.
The weekly market is a major commercial hub that attracts traders from nearby communities, including Gubio, Chiweram, Benisheikh, Gurokayeya, and Geidam.
Reacting to the incident, the Special Adviser on Security Matters to the Yobe State Governor, Brigadier General Abdulsalam Dahiru (retd.), confirmed the occurrence but clarified the geographical location of the affected community.
According to him, Jilli village is within Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Air Force had not released any official statement regarding the airstrike.
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