Airstrike Victims Overwhelm Borno Hospital, Trigger Blood Shortage

Shortage of blood has hit Borno State Specialist Hospital Maiduguri , following the evacuation of 21 victims of the Jilli Nigerian Air Force airstrike to the hospital.

LEADERSHIP recalls that the airstrike, executed on April 11, 2026, by the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI in coordination with the Nigerian Army, following an earlier operation that targeted and destroyed terrorist positions in the Jilli area , a border market between Borno and Yobe State’s , reportedly affected some civilian populace .

The medical director of the State Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri, Dr Shehu Muhammad, on Sunday, said 21 persons had been admitted to the facility.

According to him, the victims include five females and 16 males.

Dr Muhammad said, “Today, we received about 21 victims of a bomb blast as well as gunshot wounds from the town between Gubio and Geidam.

“Most of them sustained various injuries. Some had an abnormal injury as well as a head injury. We have started sorting them out and most have been sorted out except for the critical ones. So far. Out of the 21, we have five females, 16 are men.”

He classified the injured victims as mild, moderate, and severe.

“For the injuries, they came in with various degrees of severity. There are mild, moderate, and severe cases. The severe ones need to be operated on, and some have started receiving the operation,” he stated.

He, however, stated that everything needed for treatment is available, but more blood donations are required.

“So far, everything is available, and they have received all the required first aid. Some required certain units of blood before the operation, and we have no problem for now.

“However, we expect the public to donate blood. At the end of the day, it is blood that we will be needing. Once we have enough blood, we will be up to the task. We are in need of blood,” the MD further said.