Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State warned residents not to assist insurgents after an alleged accidental bombing in Jilli on Saturday. The community lies between Gubio Local Government Area in Borno and Geidam in Yobe State. A statement released on Sunday by the governor's Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Iliya, said Zulum had been fully briefed on the air operation conducted by the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI.
Zulum confirmed he received a detailed briefing on the airstrike that hit Jilli market, a border town shared by the two states. He reminded that the area has been under security restrictions for years and that the Borno State Government shut Jilli and Gazabure markets five years ago. The governor described Jilli market as a site allegedly used by insurgents and their logistics providers.
He urged locals to avoid any activity that could benefit criminal groups and said the state is working closely with security agencies and the Yobe State Government to clarify the incident. Zulum added that authorities normally coordinate with security forces before reopening markets affected by insurgency and called on residents to share useful information. "Residents must not aid, harbour, or provide logistics support to insurgents," he warned, reaffirming his administration's commitment to civilian protection while supporting military efforts to restore peace.
Governor Zulum's blunt admonition that "Residents must not aid, harbour, or provide logistics support to insurgents" signals a hardening stance toward any civilian‑insurgent interaction in the border zones. By invoking the five‑year closure of Jilli and Gazabure markets, he frames the warning as a continuation of long‑standing security policy rather than a reaction to a single incident.
The warning arrives amid reports of an accidental airstrike on Jilli market, an area already designated as a security‑sensitive zone. Zulum's coordination with Yobe State officials and the military hierarchy underscores the inter‑state effort to manage fallout from operations such as Operation HADIN KAI, while also hinting at the delicate balance between military action and civilian livelihoods.
For traders and families in Jilli and surrounding villages, the message translates into heightened scrutiny and possible restrictions on market activities that already suffer from limited access. Those dependent on the closed markets may face reduced income unless alternative trade avenues are provided, making compliance a matter of survival as much as security.
This episode reflects a broader pattern of market closures and civilian curbs in insurgency‑hit regions, where authorities repeatedly prioritize security considerations over economic normalcy, often leaving local populations to navigate the resulting hardships.
