By: Manoah Kikekon
GEIDAM, NIGERIA – Nigerian Air Force (NAF) airstrike that reportedly struck a crowded border market on Saturday evening. While the military maintains the operation successfully targeted terrorist elements, local reports suggest a devastating toll on innocent traders and bystanders.
The incident occurred at a busy commercial hub in Jilli, a suburb of Yobe State bordering Borno. The market, known for hosting cross-border traders, was at peak capacity when the bombardment began.
While the official death toll remains unconfirmed, the humanitarian impact is already evident. Survivors with various degrees of injuries were rushed to medical facilities in Geidam. The urgency of the situation prompted Ibraheem Geidam, the councillor of Jilli ward, to issue an emotional appeal to residents, urging them to donate blood to save the lives of those caught in the blast.
Witnesses claim the military was targeting insurgents who had invaded the market to extort "levies" from local traders. However, the timing of the strike meant that civilians were directly in the line of fire.
In an official statement, NAF spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame confirmed that the Air Force conducted strikes in the Jilli axis. He characterized the mission as a "coordinated air-ground integration operation" alongside the Nigerian Army, aimed at decimating known terrorist hideouts.
"The operation was a success in neutralizing enemy positions," the statement indicated.
Notably, the military's report remained silent on the allegations of civilian casualties. As of Sunday, NAF leadership has not responded to specific inquiries regarding the reported deaths of non-combatants during the raid.
This latest incident adds to a growing and controversial history of aerial operations in Northern Nigeria. As the military battles a complex mix of insurgency, banditry, and communal clashes, the "collateral damage" of air strikes has become a recurring tragedy.
December 2023: A strike in the Mararaba area of Borno State killed numerous fishermen and drivers. The NAF has yet to take responsibility.
2024: Airstrikes targeting Lakurawa militants in Sokoto State claimed 10 civilian lives.
April 2022: Six minors were killed in Kurebe, Niger State, followed by eight more deaths in the same village four months later due to targeting errors.