Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has thrown his full weight behind the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) following an airstrike conducted by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai in the Jilli area of Gubio Local Government Area, near the Borno-Yobe border.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Iliya, Governor Zulum categorically stated that the Jilli Market which some reports linked to the incident was officially closed by the Borno State Government five years ago, along with the Gazabure Market. He described the location as a notorious hub allegedly used by insurgents and their logistics suppliers.
“I have been properly briefed on the airstrike carried out by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai on Jilli market, a border town between Borno and Yobe states. Let me state categorically that the Borno State Government closed Jilli and Gazabure markets five years ago,” the Governor said.
Governor Zulum emphasized that the closure was part of sustained efforts to deny terrorists freedom of movement and disrupt their supply lines. He warned residents against aiding, harbouring, or providing any form of logistical support to Boko Haram insurgents, stressing that such actions undermine the collective fight to restore lasting peace in the North East.
The Governor commended the Nigerian military for their relentless commitment to degrading terrorist capabilities and safeguarding communities across Borno State. He reiterated his administration’s unwavering support for the armed forces in their ongoing counter-insurgency operations under Operation Hadin Kai.
This clarification comes amid reports of civilian casualties from the airstrike, which the NAF has described as a precision operation based on credible intelligence targeting terrorist elements in the Jilli axis. The military has reportedly initiated a fact-finding process to investigate the incident.
Governor Zulum urged all stakeholders to remain vigilant and collaborative in the fight against insurgency, noting that the restoration of peace in Borno remains a top priority for his administration.