Nigerian Military Strikes ISWAP Hub in Borno — But Airstrike Also Reportedly Hits Civilian Market, Killing Dozens By AfriWatch Security Desk | April 12, 2026 | Breaking News & Security

 

Nigerian Military Strikes ISWAP Hub in Borno — But Airstrike Also Reportedly Hits Civilian Market, Killing Dozens

By AfriWatch Security Desk | April 12, 2026 | Breaking News & Security

AfriWatch has verified the military's press release and cross-referenced it with independent reports from the scene. This article presents the full picture — including a critical development the military's statement does not address.

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The Nigerian military has confirmed a major air strike against an Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) logistics hub near the abandoned village of Jilli in Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State, executed on April 11, 2026 under Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK).

The operation, described by the military as a precision intelligence-driven strike, reportedly neutralised scores of terrorists and destroyed their vehicles and equipment. However, independent reports emerging from the scene tell a more troubling story — one the military's official statement does not acknowledge.

What the Military Says Happened

According to a statement signed by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer of the Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), the air strike was the result of sustained Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions over the Bindul–Jilli axis — an area long identified as a major terrorist movement corridor.

The military statement outlines the following sequence of events:

The operation was prompted by a history of deadly attacks in the area. In January 2026, troops moving from Gubio towards Damasak were hit by a major Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack at Bindul, killing eight soldiers and wounding several others. More recently, on April 9, 2026, coordinated attacks were recorded at Ngamdu and Benisheik, linked to the same terrorist logistics network — with insurgents attempting to breach the 29 Task Force Brigade headquarters at Benisheikh at approximately 12:30am.

On April 11, surveillance platforms detected multiple ISWAP gun trucks and motorcycles converging on the Jilli location. This movement was corroborated by credible human intelligence sources confirming the elements were terrorists, collaborators, and logistics handlers. Following a rigorous targeting process and final validation, the Air Component executed a series of precision strikes on the objective.

Post-strike assessment, the military says, confirmed the destruction of the terrorist logistics enclave, with scores of terrorists neutralised and their vehicles destroyed. Surviving elements were observed fleeing in multiple directions.

In a significant follow-up, on April 12, 2026, a terrorist logistics courier identified as "Turja Bulu" was arrested at Ngamdu Town. He reportedly confessed to participating in the April 9 attack on the 29 Brigade location at Benisheikh and confirmed he had been dispatched from Jilli — corroborating the military's intelligence picture.

## What the Military Statement Does NOT Say

While the military's account of the ISWAP strike is verified and corroborated by multiple credible Nigerian outlets including Daily Post and Punch Newspapers, independent reports from the scene reveal a deeply troubling development that the official press release makes no mention of.

Multiple reports indicate that the Jilli Market — a busy weekly trading hub located along the Borno–Yobe border near Gubio — was also struck during the operation, with civilians reportedly caught in the attack.

A local councillor, Malam Lawan Zanna, confirmed the incident, saying people attempted to flee when fighter jets began firing but the strikes continued. He said more than 20 people were hospitalised, with some of the injured later dying, pushing the death toll higher.

The Yobe State Police Command's Public Relations Officer, Dungus Abdulkarim, confirmed authorities were aware of the incident but said casualty figures were still being verified. "We are aware of the incident that occurred at Dilli Market along the Borno–Yobe border, and we are currently gathering information on what transpired," he said. "Security agencies are on the ground assessing the situation."

Punch Newspapers reported that no fewer than 30 people are feared killed in the market strike. Some victims are receiving treatment at Geidam Specialist Hospital in Yobe State.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), through its spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, confirmed the strikes were based on credible intelligence and conducted in coordination with ground forces, saying the operation successfully disrupted insurgent activities. However, the NAF did not directly address the civilian casualty reports in its initial response.

 Context: A Pattern of Painful Mistakes

This is not the first time Nigerian military airstrikes in the North-East have resulted in civilian casualties.

In January 2026, at least 25 civilians and 11 security personnel were killed in coordinated insurgent attacks across Borno. In **March 2026**, triple IED explosions in Maiduguri killed 23 people and injured over 100.

And in December 2023, a military drone strike on Tudun Biri in Kaduna State — targeting what forces believed was a bandit gathering — killed at least **88 civilians** in one of the worst accidental strikes in Nigeria's recent history. No one was held accountable.

Human Rights Watch and other international organisations have repeatedly raised concerns about the Nigerian military's airstrike operations, citing a pattern of civilian casualties without transparent investigations or accountability.

AfriWatch's Assessment

The military operation against ISWAP's logistics hub at Jilli is a legitimate and necessary counter-terrorism action. The verified attack on the 29 Brigade at Benisheikh on April 9, the IED attack that killed eight soldiers in January, and the ongoing threat posed by ISWAP in the North-East fully justify sustained military pressure on terrorist networks in the region.

However, if independent reports of civilian casualties at Jilli Market are confirmed, this raises serious questions that demand answers:

- Were adequate precautions taken to distinguish between the terrorist enclave and the civilian market?

- Were ground forces deployed to warn civilians before the airstrike?

- What investigation will be conducted into the civilian casualties?

- Will affected families receive acknowledgement and compensation?

The Nigerian military deserves credit for its ongoing sacrifice and operational successes against ISWAP. At the same time, accountability for civilian harm is not optional — it is a legal and moral obligation under international humanitarian law.

AfriWatch calls on the Nigerian military to conduct a transparent investigation into the civilian casualty reports and publish its findings openly.

The Broader War Against ISWAP

Operation HADIN KAI has recorded significant successes in recent months. In **February 2026**, Nigerian forces neutralised Boko Haram's second-in-command, Abu Khalid, in the Sambisa Forest. Earlier this month, airstrikes in the Kangarwa axis of Borno State killed at least 15 ISWAP fighters.

Despite these gains, the North-East remains deeply vulnerable. ISWAP continues to launch coordinated attacks on military positions, civilian communities, and infrastructure — demonstrating an operational resilience that demands sustained and precise counter-terrorism pressure.

The battle for Borno is far from over. But winning it must not come at the cost of the very civilians the military is sworn to protect.

AfriWatch will continue to follow this story. If you have first-hand information or footage from the Jilli area, contact us confidentially at afriwatchglobal@gmail.com*

Sources for this article: Official press release by Lt. Col. Sani Uba, JTF North East

Daily Post Nigeria; Punch Newspapers; Vanguard News; Nairametrics; Human Rights Watch.*