Jilli Market Bombing: Victims Treated On Floors, Vehicles

Victims of the Borno–Yobe border bombing incident are reportedly being treated on hospital floors due to a shortage of bed.

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Recall that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) had carried out an airstrike on a weekly market along the Borno–Yobe border, which reportedly killed over 200 people, mostly traders.

The incident occurred on Saturday evening at Jilli Market, located between Gubio and Geidam local government areas of Borno and Yobe states, respectively.

The airstrike was reportedly carried out during a military operation targeting suspected Boko Haram insurgents operating in the area.

A community volunteer, Idriss Alhaji Baffa, told Daily Trust that the Specialist Hospital in Geidam is overwhelmed and urgently needs beds and blood donors.

“There is no bed space in the hospital. Some patients are being treated on the floor, while others are receiving care inside vehicles due to lack of space.

“Many patients urgently need blood transfusions. While some people are willing to donate, matches are limited. The situation is very critical, and we need immediate assistance,” he said.

Multiple sources who spoke to the aforementioned publication said that the fighter jet involved in the operation was tracking a group of suspected insurgents believed to have visited the market to collect levies from traders and obtain supplies.

An eyewitness, Umar Bomai, said that about 200 traders were killed in Jilli village, located in Futchimiram ward of Geidam LGA, adding that the airstrike occurred when the market was bustling with trading activities.

“The incident happened while business activities were ongoing. Initially, we saw one jet circling the market and thought it was providing security. However, the situation changed when more jets arrived, making four in total.

“We suddenly heard a loud explosion, not knowing it was an airstrike. Before we realised what was happening, the jets began striking the area, and people started running for their lives.

“Despite people trying to escape, the strikes continued. We counted about 200 corpses at the scene, and the number may be higher,” he said.

Another resident, Babagana Bukar, whose father was among the victims, said the death toll could exceed 200 as more bodies continue to be discovered.

“The number of those killed could be more than 200. Some died in the market, while others were killed in nearby bushes as they tried to flee.

“Even in the hospital, 11 of the admitted patients have died while receiving treatment. We are still counting and recovering more bodies,” he said.

When contacted, the councillor of Futchimiram ward, Malam Lawan Zanna, said about 200 people were killed in the incident.

“We are yet to gather the actual number of those that have been killed, but an eyewitness has confirmed to me that over 200 people have been killed in the airstrike.

“Perhaps available data on the number of casualties will be known tomorrow, but right now, all I can tell you is that we have 24 people admitted in the Specialist Hospital Geidam and the Teaching Hospital Damaturu,” Zanna said.