.Terrorist hub was target, says Buratai
.As NAF probes alleged civilian casualties
.Community is Boko Haram stronghold, says Yobe govt
.Amnesty Int’l urges Tinubu to tackle insecurity, says 1,100 Nigerians abducted in 3 months
.Killing of law abiding citizens a tragic failure of FG –Atiku
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has sustained pressure on terrorists in the North-East, neutralising scores of insurgents and destroying hideouts in precision follow-up air strikes in the Jilli axis of Borno.
This was contained in a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, on Sunday in Abuja.
Ejodame said the air strikes were conducted on April 11 by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai as part of ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the theatre.
He said the mission targeted fleeing terrorists and regrouping elements following an earlier successful engagement that decimated their positions in the area.
“The follow-up strikes were executed based on credible intelligence and in close coordination with ground forces to deny terrorists freedom of movement and prevent further attacks.
“The operation formed part of a broader air-ground integration effort aimed at consolidating earlier gains recorded by friendly forces,” he said.
According to him, the strikes effectively disrupted terrorist activities within the Jilli axis, a known enclave exploited by insurgents due to its difficult terrain.
Ejodame said the sustained offensive underscored the growing effectiveness of intelligence-driven joint operations in the North-East.
He added that the Nigerian Air Force remained committed to persistent surveillance, precision targeting and rapid response missions to support ongoing military efforts.
“The NAF will continue to sustain momentum in ongoing operations to protect innocent lives, secure communities and restore lasting peace in the region,” he said.
However, an airstrike by the Nigerian Air Force has reportedly resulted in civilian casualties at a market along the Borno–Yobe border.
The incident occurred on Saturday evening at Dilli Market in Yobe State, near Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State.
The Yobe State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Dungus Abdulkarim, confirmed the development but said no official casualty figures were available as of the time of filing this report.
He added, “We are aware of the incident that occurred at Dilli Market along the Borno–Yobe border, and we are currently gathering information on what transpired. At this moment, we do not have confirmed casualty figures, as details are still being verified.
“Security agencies are on the ground assessing the situation, while efforts are ongoing to ensure proper documentation and response, after which the public will be duly informed with accurate and official updates.”
Dilli Market is known to attract traders and buyers from neighbouring communities, including Giedam in Yobe State, as well as Gubio, Chibok axis communities, and Benisheikh in Borno State.
According to local sources, the airstrike was carried out during a military operation targeting suspected Boko Haram insurgents believed to be operating within the area.
“The insurgents usually come to the market to collect levies from traders and gather supplies,” a resident revealed.
Emergency response efforts were ongoing as of press time, with injured victims reportedly receiving treatment at hospitals in Giedam and Damaturu.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Air Force had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International has called on the Federal Government to take urgent action to address insecurity, particularly in northern Nigeria.
In a statement posted on its X handle on Sunday, the organisation said, “President Bola Tinubu and his government must urgently address the country’s horrifying spate of abductions targeting rural communities and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the northern part of the country, as at least 1,100 people have been abducted in three months – from January to April 2026.”
It noted that victims are often subjected to severe abuses, including torture, starvation, rape and forced involvement in violent acts.
“Apart from killing people, gunmen are now on a rampage of abductions – largely for lucrative ransom. Some stay months at the mercy of gunmen in punishing situations.
“Estimates of the number of abductions by gunmen and armed groups across Nigeria vary, and some of the commonly cited figures vastly understate the scale of the problem,” said Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi.
The group cited several incidents across states, including a February 3 attack on Woro village in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, where 200 people were reportedly killed and 176 abducted.
It also referenced the abduction of 150 people in early April in Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State, and the kidnapping of over 100 displaced persons by Boko Haram fighters in March near Mafa in Borno State.
According to Amnesty, more than 400 people were abducted in Ngoshe, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, on March 3, while 57 people were kidnapped in Niger State in January.
“On March 30, 18 passengers in a commercial vehicle travelling from Abuja to Sokoto were abducted along Mayanci in a part of Zamfara State.
“On February 19, 2026, 92 people were abducted by an armed group in Zamfara State. A total of 42 people were abducted in Anka Local Government Area, and another 50 were separately abducted in Tsafe Local Government Area.
“On January 18, 2026, gunmen carried out a mass abduction by attacking three churches at Kurmin Wali village in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State during a morning worship service. At least 166 people were abducted. It was reported that they were released later,” it added.
The organisation also quoted a resident of Woro community in Kwara State who recounted the ordeal, saying, “They (attackers) didn’t just kill; they stole our life away.
“They abducted 176 people, including my second wife and my three daughters. One of them is only two years old. I have seen the video they posted on social media.
“I heard my wife’s voice. I saw my people. It has been almost two months now, and they are still in that forest.”
Amnesty International warned that the wave of abductions is forcing families into extreme hardship, with some selling all they have or resorting to community fundraising to pay ransom.
“In almost all cases of these abductions, people were also killed, homes and shops looted and razed. In some cases, families must dispose of everything they have to pay ransom, while villages often crowdsource to rescue their people.
“Those who could not pay are sometimes either killed, disappeared or tortured more. What we are witnessing right now in the northern part of Nigeria is a crisis of abduction that increasingly endangers lives,” Sanusi said.
The group added that the fear of abduction is disrupting education, with many children forced out of school, while underage girls are pushed into early marriage to avoid being targeted.
It criticised Nigerian authorities for failing to meet their constitutional and international obligations to protect citizens.
“This failure by the authorities to promote and ensure the security and safety of the population constitutes a serious breach of their human rights obligations, including under the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, to which Nigeria is a state party,” Sanusi added.
Amnesty’s call comes amid ongoing concerns about banditry and insurgency in the North-West and North-East.
On Thursday, President Tinubu assured that the Federal Government would continue to support the Armed Forces, stating that “the government will always stand by the Armed Forces, provide more of the equipment needed and ensure the welfare of all who risk their lives for our safety.”
The President said this in a condolence message following an attack on a military base in Benisheikh, Borno State, where suspected Boko Haram members killed Brigadier-General O.O. Braimah and several soldiers, with vehicles and buildings destroyed during the attack.
The incident marks the second killing of a senior military officer in recent months, following the death of Brigadier-General Musa Uba in November 2025
However, the Yobe state government says the air strike in Jilli market targeted a Boko Haram stronghold in Borno state.
The government said the operation was carried out by the air component of Operation Hadin Kai.
Several civilians were reportedly killed and injured following an air 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, said the strike was not targeted at civilians.
“The attention of Yobe state government has been drawn to online reports suggesting an attack on the people of Gaidam Local Government Area,” the statement reads.
“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 (a Boko Haram stronghold) of Gubio Local Government Area in Borno State, yesterday, Saturday, 11th April 2025.”
Abdulsalam said some residents of Geidam LGA in Yobe state were affected by the incident.
“However, some people from Geidam LGA bordering Gubio LGA in Borno state who went to the Jilli weekly market were affected,” he said.
Abdulsalam said the victims have been taken to the hospital for treatment.
“They have been evacuated to Geidam Specialist Hospital and responding to receiving treatment,” he added.
Reacting , Atiku Abubakar former Vice President of Nigeria noted that the Jilli market airstrike that killed scores of innocent traders is not just tragic, but a devastating failure that must outrage every conscience.
While targeting insurgents, innocent Nigerians were once again reduced to collateral damage. How long will citizens remain unsafe both from terrorists and from the very operations meant to protect them? Just a few days ago, the United States deployed over 150 aircraft and spent an estimated $300 million to rescue just one pilot in Iran, even destroying equipment worth over $100 million each to protect a single life. That is the value they place on one citizen.
Here at home, we must ask: what is the value of Nigerian lives? This demands urgent review, accountability, and decisive action to prevent a recurrence.
My heartfelt condolences go to the bereaved families and affected communities. Nigeria must uphold its duty to protect its citizen. That is the ultimate essence of National Security.
.Terrorist hub was target, says Buratai
Meanwhile, A former Chief of Army Staff, retired Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has described the recent airstrike on Jilli Market as a necessary military action against a terrorist stronghold.
Buratai, in a statement on Sunday, said the strike was based on credible intelligence indicating that Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters were using the market for logistics and operations.
He acknowledged reports of civilian casualties, noting that the loss of the innocent lives was painful and deeply regrettable.
The former army chief, however, commended the Nigerian Air Force and intelligence agencies for what he described as courage and professionalism in executing the operation.
According to him, Jilli market has a long history as a terrorist logistics hub in spite of repeated military raids and closures over the years.
He recalled that troops had occupied the area during Operation LAST HOLD in 2018, engaging insurgents in several encounters.
Buratai noted that terrorists continued to exploit the market with the cooperation of some individuals who patronised and supplied them.
He stressed that insurgents often embed within civilian populations, using them as shields, thereby complicating military operations.
“No military wishes to harm civilians, but when such locations are persistently used by terrorists, action becomes necessary,” he said.
He urged residents of Geidam, Gubio, Damasak and Ngamdu to desist from trading in markets linked to insurgent activities.
According to him, communities that continue such interactions risk exposure to military operations targeting terrorists.
Buratai therefore called for sustained public support for the armed forces, emphasising that decisive action remained key to ending insurgency.
He added that while the nation mourned the innocent victims, it must remained resolute in confronting terrorists.
He also prayed for the repose of the souls of those who died and speedy recovery for the injured.
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