April 12, (THEWILL) — Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has dismissed claims that civilians were killed in a recent military airstrike in Jilli, Gubio Local Government Area, insisting that the market reportedly affected had been shut down by the state government five years ago.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Iliya, the governor described the location as a restricted zone long identified as a hub for insurgent activities and logistics, rather than an active civilian marketplace.
“I have been properly briefed on the airstrike carried out by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai on Jilli market, a border town between Borno and Yobe states. Let me state categorically that the Borno State Government closed Jilli and Gazabure markets five years ago,” Zulum said.
The governor’s remarks come in response to reports that no fewer than 30 persons were feared killed when an airstrike struck what was described as a weekly market in Jilli village on Saturday evening, sparking panic among traders and residents.
Rejecting the characterization of the site as an operational civilian market, Zulum maintained that the state government had, as part of its counter-insurgency strategy, taken deliberate steps years earlier to shut down markets in volatile border communities to prevent their exploitation by insurgents.
“I am in close consultation with the Government of Yobe State and the military hierarchy on the matter,” the governor added, indicating ongoing efforts to clarify the circumstances surrounding the operation.
The April 11, 2026 airstrike was conducted by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai in coordination with the Nigerian Army, following earlier offensives that targeted and destroyed suspected terrorist positions in the area.
Governor Zulum further explained that the Borno State Government maintains strict coordination with the military and other security agencies before resettling communities or reopening markets, particularly in areas previously affected by insurgency.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to safeguarding law-abiding citizens while sustaining collaborative efforts with security agencies to restore peace and stability across the state.
“The Governor further urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that will aid ongoing military operations,” Iliya stated.
The governor’s position directly contests accounts suggesting civilian presence at the site, placing emphasis on the government’s longstanding security measures and raising broader questions about the use of restricted locations by armed groups in conflict-affected regions.
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