There are new worries about civilian safety in conflict-prone areas after a Nigerian Air Force airstrikes bombed a bustling market near the Borno–Yobe border injured multiple civilians.
The airstrikes happened on Saturday night in Yobe State’s Dilli Market, a major market hub that serves communities in both states, including Benisheikh, Giedam, Gubio, and portions of the Chibok axis. The market was lively at the time of the strikes, with buyers and sellers going about their daily business before things suddenly changed.
The Yobe State Police Command acknowledged the development but stated that the number of casualties was still being ascertained. Security agencies are on the ground evaluating the situation and obtaining precise information before releasing a comprehensive report, according to its spokesperson, Dungus Abdulkarim.
Local sources, however, claim that the airstrikes was part of an operation aimed at suspected Boko Haram militants said to be active in the region. Residents claim that the combatants frequently pass through the market to obtain supplies and collect levies from vendors.
What local sources said about the airstrikes
According to eyewitnesses, the jet chased the suspects but struck the crowded market instead of its intended target.
Although these numbers are still unclear, several sources estimate that no fewer than 56 people, mostly traders, are feared dead, while 14 others have been hospitalized following an airstrike
Following the incident, injured individuals were sent to hospitals in Giedam and Damaturu, where they are still receiving medical attention. As anxiety grows throughout neighboring areas, families have also started looking for missing relatives.
“The incident happened around 2:46 p.m. while business activities were ongoing. Four fighter jets carried out the attack, though the fourth jet was not clearly visible. We only heard the sound of explosions.
“I counted 56 corpses myself and helped rescue two injured people, taking them to the hospital. I believe the number of casualties may be higher, as more bodies are still being recovered,” a source told journalists.
ENigeria Newspaper can confirm that the Nigerian Air Force had not released an official statement about the airstrikes incident as of the time this report was filed.
However, as part of continuous counterterrorism operations in the Northeast, the Nigerian Air Force has conducted follow-up airstrikes on suspected terrorist positions in Borno State’s Jilli axis.
The most recent mission concentrated on escaping rebels and regrouping elements trying to take advantage of the challenging terrain following the initial assault, according to a statement released on Sunday by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information.
“In a sustained demonstration of the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to counter-terrorism and the protection of innocent lives, the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI in ongoing operations on 11 April 2026 successfully executed precision follow-up mop-up air strikes on identified terrorist locations within the Jilli axis of Borno State. The mission was conducted as part of a coordinated air-ground integration operation with the Nigerian Army, following an earlier successful engagement that effectively decimated terrorist positions in the area”, the statement partly read.
“Coming amid intensified efforts to track and neutralise terrorist elements responsible for recent attacks on security forces within the wider theatre, the follow-on strikes were aimed at fleeing remnants and regrouping cells seeking to exploit the difficult terrain. Acting on credible intelligence received through close coordination with relevant stakeholders and validated by the appropriate operational command, the operation further consolidated gains already achieved by friendly forces.”
