Yobe State Government has said the recent airstrike on Jilli market along the Borno–Yobe border was targeted at a Boko Haram stronghold, not civilians.
Gatekeepers News reports that the clarification was made in a statement by Dahiru Abdulsalam, special adviser on security matters to the governor. He explained that the operation was carried out by the air component of Operation Hadin Kai and was aimed at insurgent positions in Jilli, located in Gubio LGA of Borno State.
The government stressed that the location had been identified as a base used by Boko Haram fighters, insisting the strike was not directed at innocent residents. However, it acknowledged that some people from Geidam LGA in Yobe State who had gone to the weekly market were affected by the incident.
Victims of the airstrike were reportedly evacuated to Geidam Specialist Hospital, where they are receiving treatment.
Earlier reports indicated that several civilians were killed or injured when the strike hit the busy market, with emergency response teams deployed and investigations ongoing to determine the full extent of casualties.
The incident has drawn concern from observers and humanitarian groups, especially amid reports that the strike may have impacted civilians despite being aimed at insurgents operating in the area.
