Jilli Airstrike: ‘I Lost Six Brothers,’ Says Resident as Officials Defend Operation

A resident of Jilli community along the Borno–Yobe border, Mallam Abatcha Gubio, has said he lost six brothers in last Saturday’s airstrike targeting suspected insurgents, as authorities maintain the operation was based on himcredible intelligence.

Gubio told reporters that more than 100 bodies recovered from the scene have already been buried. He identified his deceased brothers as Abatcha Ali, Modu Moruma, Mohammed Moruma, Shehuri Modu, Bukar Sugum and Ali Chellu.

The airstrike took place in Jilli, an area long regarded by security agencies as a high-risk zone. The local market, known as “Kasu Daulaye” in Kanuri, has been described by officials as a hub for insurgent logistics, levy collection and operational planning. Market activities reportedly held every Saturday despite an official closure order issued by the Borno State Government five years ago.

In a statement, the state government reiterated that the market remained banned and warned that anyone patronising it could be considered a collaborator with insurgent groups.

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, defended the strike, stating that those present at the location were not civilians but individuals engaged in transactions with insurgents. Speaking on national television, he said the operation targeted a known logistics base and was carried out using verified intelligence.

However, Gubio disputed that position, insisting that civilians were among those killed. He said the market had existed for generations and continued to attract traders from surrounding communities, including Benisheikh, Geidam, Magumeri and Maiduguri, as well as buyers from neighbouring Niger Republic.

According to him, the market remained active because it served as a key commercial centre in an area with limited alternatives. He noted that livestock and other goods were sold at relatively lower prices, drawing regular patronage despite security concerns.

Gubio acknowledged that insurgents were known to visit the market but maintained that many ordinary residents depended on it for their livelihoods.

Security sources indicated that the airstrike targeted suspected insurgents believed to have gathered at the market to collect levies and procure supplies.

A former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), described the strike as a necessary action against a long-standing insurgent stronghold. He said intelligence reports had consistently identified the location as a logistics hub for Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters.

Buratai, however, acknowledged reports of civilian casualties, describing any loss of innocent lives as regrettable. He noted that insurgents often operate within civilian environments, complicating military operations.

He urged residents in surrounding areas, including Geidam, Gubio and Damasak, to avoid markets linked to insurgent activity, warning that such locations remain potential targets in ongoing counterinsurgency operations.