By Hadiza Mohammed, Minna
The Yobe State Government has said the airstrike on Jilli market was aimed at a Boko Haram stronghold in Borno State, not civilians.
The operation, according to the government, was carried out by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai.
Several civilians were reportedly killed and injured following the strike on a market along the Borno–Yobe border.
In a statement on Sunday, Dahiru Abdulsalam, Special Adviser on Security Matters to the Yobe State Governor, dismissed reports suggesting residents of Geidam Local Government Area were directly targeted.
“The attention of Yobe State Government has been drawn to online reports suggesting an attack on the people of Geidam Local Government Area,” the statement read.
“It has become necessary to set the record straight. The Air Component of the Joint Task Force (Northeast), Operation Hadin Kai, conducted an airstrike mission on Jilli—a Boko Haram stronghold—in Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State on Saturday, April 11, 2025.” 
Abdulsalam, however, confirmed that some residents of Geidam LGA were affected, as they had travelled to the Jilli weekly market at the time of the strike.
“Some people from Geidam LGA, bordering Gubio LGA in Borno State, who went to the Jilli weekly market were affected,” he said.
He added that the victims have been evacuated to Geidam Specialist Hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment.
