Yobe Govt confirms civilian casualties after airstrikes on Jilli village

By Ndahi Marama | Damaturu

The Yobe State Government has confirmed that some civilians were affected during recent military airstrikes targeting Boko Haram enclaves in Jilli village, located in neighbouring Borno State.

The disclosure was made on Sunday by the Special Adviser on Security Matters to the governor, Dahiru Abdulsalam, in an official statement addressing reports circulating online about the incident.

According to the statement, the air operation was carried out by the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI, the Joint Task Force in the North-East, on Saturday, April 11, 2025, targeting Jilli, described as a known Boko Haram stronghold in Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State.

The government clarified that while the primary objective of the strike was insurgent positions, some civilians from Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe State, who had travelled to Jilli for the weekly market, were caught in the impact zone.

“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 record straight,” the statement read.

It added that the affected civilians have since been evacuated to Geidam Specialist Hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment.

However, sources claimed that the number of civilians impacted could be significantly higher, alleging that more than 50 people may have been affected by the airstrikes. Authorities have yet to confirm this figure.

The development highlights the ongoing challenges of conducting military operations against insurgents in areas where civilian activities, such as local markets, still take place.