No less than 30 people are feared killed, after the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) military airstrikes hit a Jilli border community market in Geidam Local Council of Yobe State.

Jilli, shares borders with Borno state with the holding of Saturday weekly market with Geidam town, also a major border community with Niger Republic.

The incident, which occurred at the popular market, reportedly left many traders and residents in panic with several explosions that disrupted the buying and selling of good and services, including livestock..
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Confirming the airstrikes, in a telephone interview on Sunday in Damaturu, the Councillor of the area, Malam Lawan Zannah said; “From the information available to us, it was an airstrike, as more than 30 of our people have been confirmed dead,” adding that more than 20 were hospitalised at Geidam General Hospital.
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Eyewitnesses also revealed; “The attack on the market and thousands of traders started around 4:00 p.m. while commercial activities were ongoing, with several fighter jets reportedly hitting the market and some traders fleeing for safety in nearby bushes..
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A survivor of the airstrikes said, “I counted 56 corpses myself, while more bodies are still being recovered at market square and nearby farmlands.
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Other ources in the border community indicated that the strike may have been aimed at suspected Boko Haram terrorists, who allegedly gathered in the area, but the bombs reportedly continue to hit the crowded market instead.”
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The weekly border market draws many traders from surrounding communities, including Gubio, Chiweram, Benisheik, Gurokayeya and Geidam.
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The Special Adviser to the Yobe State Governor on Security Matters, Brig-Gen. Abdulsalam Dahiru (rtd), on Sunday also confirmed the incident but said; “Jilli village falls within Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State.”
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As at press time, the Nigerian Air Force has yet to issue an official statement on the incident where 30 people were feared killed.