Maiduguri, NIGERIA – Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has broken his silence on the controversial airstrike at Jilli, warning residents that aiding or harboring Boko Haram insurgents will not be tolerated.
Okay News reports that in a statement released on Sunday, April 12, 2026, the Governor clarified that the Jilli market—where at least 56 people were reportedly killed in a military airstrike—has been officially closed for five years. Zulum described the location as a “notorious hub” used by insurgents and their logistics suppliers to sustain their operations.
“Let me state categorically that the Borno State Government closed Jilli and Gazabure markets five years ago,” the Governor said through his Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Iliya. This revelation adds a new layer to the unfolding tragedy, suggesting that any commercial activity at the site was unauthorized and potentially linked to insurgent logistics.
Governor Zulum stated that he is in close consultation with the Yobe State Government and the Defence Headquarters regarding the operation. He emphasized that the state government only reopens markets and resettles communities in coordination with security agencies to ensure they are safe from terrorist influence.
While the military maintains the mission was a successful “precision strike” on an ISWAP logistics enclave, and local leaders mourn the loss of traders, Zulum’s stance firmly aligns with the military’s intelligence. He urged residents to remain vigilant and provide credible information to security agencies, stressing that restoring peace requires an end to the logistical support that fuels the insurgency.
