Nigerian military defend Jilli airstrike, say na terrorist camp dem target after reports claim civilian casualties

Di Nigerian military don defend di airstrike on Jilli village market near di Borno–Yobe border for di north-east of di kontri on Saturday, 11 April.

Dis dey come afta reports say di Nigerian military jets wey strike di village market kill many civilians.

Jilli na border community between Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State and Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe State.

Di area dey di centre of di long-running Boko Haram insurgency, wey don force more dan two million pipo to run comot dia homes and dem wia dem don kill thousands of pipo.

Di Nigerian Army for statement confam say dem carry out "precision airstrike" on one known terrorist enclave and logistics hubs wey dey located near di abandoned village of Jilli for Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State.

Although, dem no give exact number of pipo wey die, di military say dem neutralise scores of terrorists for di strike, and dem destroy dia vehicles and technicals, as dem observe surviving elements as dem run in multiple directions.

"Di successful strike, wey dey executed on 11 April 2026, follow sustained intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions ova di Bindul–Jilli axis, one area wey for long, dey identified as major terrorist movement corridor and convergence point for Islamic State West Africa Province terrorists plus dia collaborators."

Di statement add say di alleged terrorists wey dem kpai bin dey di final stages of receiving logistics from couriers, for coordinated attacks on troop locations within di Gubio axis.

Di military add say dem arrest one terrorist logistics courier wey dey identified as "Turja Bulu", for Ngamdu Town, and upon preliminary investigation, e confess say e dey part of di attack for 29 Bde location on 9 April 2026.

Nigerian Air Force launch investigation on alleged civilian casualties

Di Nigerian Air Force (NAF) say dem don begin investigation into claims of civilian casualties during di airstrikes. around Jilli Market near Fuchimiram village in di Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe State.

For one statement on Sunday, di Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, say dem go "treat all reports of possible civilian harm wit di utmost seriousness and empathy".

"In line wit dis commitment, di CAS don direct immediate activation of di Civilian Harm Accident and Investigation Cell (CHAI-Cell) to immediately proceed to di location on a fact-finding mission on di allegation," di statement read.

NAF maintain say dem remain "firmly committed to professionalism, accountability, and transparency for di conduct of dia missions".

For one earlier statement, NAF confam mop-up air strikes for di Jilli axis. But dem no tok weda any civilian casualties dey recorded.

"Coming for di middle of intensified efforts to track and neutralise terrorist elements responsible for recent attacks on security forces within di wider theatre, di follow-on strikes dey aimed at fleeing remnants and regrouping cells wey dey try to exploit di difficult terrain," NAF tok.

Di area dey di centre of di long-running Boko Haram insurgency, wey don force more dan two million pipo to run comot dia homes and dem wia dem don kill thousands of pipo.

Meanwhile, conflicting reports on di number of casualties as a result of di strike dey ground.

One councillor, Lawan Zanna Nur Geidam, for Yobe Geidam district, plus three residents and one official from one international humanitarian agency, wey news agency Reuters cite tok say at least 200 pipo die for di strike.

Lawan Zanna Nur Geidam, di councillor and traditional head of Fuchimeram ward for Yobe Geidam district tell Reuters say dem don carry pipo wey injure go hospitals for Yobe and Borno.

"Na very devastating incident for Jilli Market. As I dey follow you tok now, ova 200 pipo don die from di air strike for di market," e tok for one telephone interview.

Three oda residents plus official from one international humanitarian agency also confam di strike and likely death toll.

Ahmed Ali, one 43-year-old resident wey dey sell medical consumables ​for di ⁠market, say im injure from di blast.

"I fear and try to run, but my friend drag me and lie down for ground," e tok from hospital.

Amnesty International Nigeria don condemn di military air strikes wey dem say kill ova 100 pipo for Jalli Futchimiram.

"Launching air raids no be legitimate law enforcement method by anyone standard. Such reckless use of deadly force dey unlawful, outrageous and e lay bare di Nigerian military shocking disregard for di lives of dos dem supposedly exist to protect," di agency tok for statement.

Dem add say Nigerian authorities must immediately and impartially investigate di incident and ensure say suspected perpetrators face di music.

Nigeria north‑east don record repeated incidents in recent years wia military air operations against Islamist insurgents don mistakenly hit civilians, including for villages, camps for displaced people and markets.

Borno state govment close Jilli and Gazabure markets five years ago - Gov. Zulum

Borno State Govnor Prof. Babagana Zulum say im administration close Jilli and Gazabure markets five years ago.

For statement wey di Special Adviser to di Governor on Media, Dauda Iliya, Governor Zulum sign, e describe Jilli market as "a notorious hub allegedly used by insurgents and dia logistics suppliers."

Govnor Zulum warn residents against aiding, harbouring, or providing logistical support to Boko Haram insurgents, as e say im dey in close consultation wit di Yobe govment and di military hierarchy on top di mata.