Survivors of a recent military airstrike on a market in Jilli village, Borno State, have rejected claims that the area was linked to insurgent activity, insisting they were simply carrying out their normal livestock trading when the attack happened.
The strike, which reportedly took place on April 11, 2026, targeted the weekly market situated along the Borno–Yobe border.
The operation was carried out by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai in collaboration with ground forces of the Nigerian Army.
Initial reports suggest that at least 30 people may have lost their lives, while many others fled the scene in panic as explosions hit the busy marketplace.
Speaking a day after the incident, survivors described a sudden and chaotic attack that caught traders completely off guard.
Survivors Share Their Experience
One of them, Abu Goni, recounted that business activities were still ongoing shortly after the evening Maghrib prayers when the strike occurred.
According to him, there had been no indication of danger prior to the arrival of the aircraft.
He explained that traders initially paid little attention to the jet overhead, only to be thrown into confusion moments later when the bombardment began.
Goni maintained that the market functioned purely as a livestock trading hub, where people bought and sold animals before returning home, with no permanent structures or signs of militant presence.
Another witness, Bulama Balo, claimed that multiple fighter jets were involved in the operation, appearing in succession and releasing munitions in turns.
He described a pattern of repeated strikes that intensified the destruction and left many struggling to escape.
Balo said survivors fled overnight to nearby Maigumeri, where they sought temporary refuge before heading to a local hospital the following morning.
Some of the injured, he added, were later transferred to a teaching hospital for more advanced care.
Government Response
In response to the incident, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum stated that the Jilli market had officially been shut down about five years ago.
According to him, the closure was due to concerns that the location had previously served as a logistics base for insurgent groups.
The governor noted that he had been briefed on the airstrike and is currently in discussions with authorities in Yobe State and military officials to assess the situation.
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He reiterated his administration’s support for ongoing security operations while emphasising the importance of safeguarding innocent civilians.