By George Ozalla
There is growing concern over a Nigerian Air Force operation that went wrong on Saturday after an airstrike hit Jilli Market, a busy weekly trading centre located along the border between Gubio Local Government Area in Borno State and Geidam Local Government Area in Yobe State, leaving what locals describe as a devastating loss of lives.
The market, which usually draws traders, farmers, and buyers from several surrounding communities, was said to be full at the time of the incident when military aircraft operating under Operation Hadin Kai launched strikes targeting suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province fighters believed to be moving through the area.
What followed, according to eyewitness accounts and local officials, was a sudden shift in the course of the operation as the bombs reportedly landed inside the crowded marketplace rather than the intended targets. The impact tore through sections of the market where people had gathered for routine trading activities, scattering goods, burning stalls, and leaving many trapped in the confusion that followed.
Residents who arrived shortly after the incident described scenes of heavy destruction, with bodies lying across open spaces, market stalls reduced to rubble, and survivors attempting to pull out those still alive from beneath debris. Some traders who escaped said the explosion came without warning, giving people little or no time to react.
Emergency response efforts later moved the injured to the Specialist Hospital in Geidam, where medical personnel are currently treating at least 14 people with serious injuries. A number of critically wounded victims were also referred to Damaturu for further treatment as hospitals in the area struggled to cope with the influx.
While early figures from witnesses placed the death toll at not less than 56, community sources and local officials say the number could be significantly higher. Some estimates circulating within the area suggest that as many as 200 people may have lost their lives, although recovery and identification efforts are still ongoing and the full extent of the casualties has not been confirmed.
The Nigerian Air Force and the Defence Headquarters have not yet issued any official response on the incident or clarified the outcome of the operation as concerns continue to grow across affected communities.
The Jilli axis and surrounding border communities have long been caught in the middle of Nigeria’s counter insurgency operations, where military offensives against armed groups often take place close to civilian settlements. Saturday’s incident has once again raised difficult questions about the risks faced by residents who continue to live and trade in areas frequently used as movement corridors by armed groups.
As of Sunday afternoon, the situation remains uncertain, with authorities yet to provide a definitive casualty figure, while families and community members continue to search for missing persons amid ongoing recovery efforts.
