The Yobe State Government has justified the recent airstrike on Jilli Market, insisting the location served as a base for Boko Haram fighters and was not deliberately targeted at civilians.
The clarification followed reports of civilian casualties after a military bombardment near the Borno–Yobe border.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Dahiru Abdulsalam, said the operation was executed by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai as part of ongoing counter-insurgency efforts in the North-East.
He explained that the strike was directed at Jilli, located in Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State, which he described as a known enclave of insurgents.
According to him, the government’s attention was drawn to claims circulating online alleging that residents of Geidam Local Government Area in Yobe State were the intended targets.
Abdulsalam, however, dismissed the claims, stating that the mission was aimed strictly at dismantling terrorist elements.
He acknowledged, however, that some residents from border communities in Geidam, who had travelled to the weekly market in Jilli, were caught in the aftermath of the strike.
The official added that those affected had been evacuated to the Geidam Specialist Hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment.
The incident has sparked concern over civilian safety in conflict zones, particularly in areas where local populations and insurgent activities intersect.
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