Military Claims Bombing Terrorists In Jilli, Silent On Civilian Casualties

Despite the wide spread of civilian casualties after Nigerian Air Force bombing at Borno – Yobe border market in Jilli, Gubio local government area of Borno State, the Nigerian military has said that it was Islamic State of West Africa Province ( ISWAP ) terrorists that were bombed.

A statement issued to newsmen on Sunday in Maiduguri by the media information officer Operation Hadin Kai ( OPHK ) , Lt Col Sani Uba , said the Air Component of Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI coordinated planned and intelligence-driven operation, has successfully conducted a precision air strike on a known terrorist enclave and logistics hub located near the abandoned village of Jilli in Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State.

Uba said the successful strike, executed on 11 April , 2026, followed sustained intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions over the Bindul–Jilli axis, an area long identified as a major terrorist movement corridor and convergence point for Islamic State West Africa Province terrorists and their collaborators.

“It will be recalled that in January 2026, troops moving from Gubio towards Damasak came under a major Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack along the road at Bindul, resulting in the tragic loss of eight soldiers, while several others were wounded in action.

“More recently, on 9 April, coordinated attacks were recorded in Ngamdu and Benisheik, supported by the same terrorist logistics network. Consequently, the Theatre intensified overhead surveillance and intelligence gathering across the area in response to persistent reports of terrorist movement and logistics activity.

“On 11 April , 2026, multiple reports were received of ISWAP Gun Trucks(GT) and Motorcycles (MC) moving along the axis. Consequently, ISR coverage over the area was immediately intensified. During the surveillance mission, a contingent of motorcycles was observed moving in the direction of Jilli, followed shortly by the movement of several additional vehicles, all converging on the same location.

“These suspicious movements were subsequently corroborated by credible human intelligence sources, confirming that the converging elements were terrorists, their collaborators, and logistics handlers,” the OPHK media information officer said.

He said it is imperative to state that, in line with established operational procedures, a rigorous and professional targeting process was undertaken, adding that target fidelity was confirmed through multiple credible Human Intelligence sources, supported by persistent aerial surveillance.

The OPHK spokesman added that upon final validation, the Air Component executed a series of precision strikes on the objective, while Surveillance platforms maintained continuous overwatch for real-time battle damage assessment.

He said equally important to know, is that the post-strike assessment confirmed that the target area was struck with high accuracy, resulting in the destruction of the identified terrorist logistics enclave.

“Scores of terrorists were neutralised in the strike, with their vehicles and technicals destroyed, while surviving elements were observed fleeing in multiple directions. Intelligence further indicates that the neutralised elements were in the final stages of receiving logistics from couriers, for coordinated attacks on troop locations within the Gubio axis.

“This decisive action has therefore significantly disrupted imminent terrorist plans and degraded their operational capability within the Theatre.

“Instructively, on 12 April 2026, a terrorist logistics courier identified as “Turja Bulu”, was arrested at Ngamdu Town, and upon preliminary investigation confessed that he took part in the attack at 29 Bde location on 9 April 2026 at Benisheik and had been dispatched by ISWAP from Jilli where most of his fellow terrorists were hibernating to provide food items for another group of terrorists currently hibernating around the Magumeri-Gubio General Area.

“This successful strike is yet another demonstration of the resolve and operational capability of OPHK to sustain relentless pressure on terrorist elements, disrupt their logistics networks, and deny them freedom of movement within the Theatre.

“The Theatre Command also wishes to reiterate that the use of motorcycles remains strictly prohibited across the North East operational theatre, particularly in Borno and Yobe States, due to their established and continued use by terrorist elements for movement, logistics, and attack operations. Any such movements in restricted areas are therefore treated with the utmost seriousness in line with existing operational directives.

“Additionally, Joint Task Force (North East) OPHK assures the good people of the North East and indeed all law-abiding Nigerians, that ongoing operations will continue with renewed intensity until all terrorist enclaves are dismantled and lasting peace and economic stability are restored to the North East region,” the statement further read.