The Yobe State Government has confirmed that Jilli community affected by the military air strikes is a Boko Haram stronghold in the Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State.
Brigadier General Dahiru Abdulsalam (rtd.), the Security Adviser to Governor Mai Mala Buni, confirmed this in a statement, while clarifying whether the incident happened in Yobe or Borno.
“The attention of the Yobe State Government has been drawn to online reports suggesting an attack on the people of Geidam Local Government Area.
“It has become necessary to set the records straight. The Air Component of the Joint Task Force (Northeast) Operation HADIN KAI conducted an air strike mission on Jilli (Boko Haram stronghold) of Gubio Local Government Area in Borno State, on Saturday, April 11, 2025,” the statement read in part.
He also disclosed that some of the injured persons came from Geidam but had been moved to a hospital.
“Some of the affected victims came from Geidam LGA bordering Gubio LGA in Borno state, who went to the Jilli weekly market. They have been evacuated to Geidam Specialist Hospital and are responding to receiving treatment,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Chief Medical Director of Maiduguri Specialist Hospital, Dr. Shehu Mohammed, has confirmed the receipt of 21 injured people from the Jilli air strikes, who were receiving medical attention.
Mohammed revealed all the victims were in stable condition, but some needed blood transfusions before they could undergo surgeries.
He urged the residents to support the victims through blood donation.
Several people were feared killed, following the air strikes in the market located at a border community.
A source stated that a military fighter jet was tracking the movement of suspected Boko Haram insurgents in the area, who were reportedly said to have moved to the market to collect levies from residents before the incident occurred.