On April 11, 2026, the Nigerian Air Force conducted a precision strike on confirmed terrorist targets in the Jilli axis of Gubio Local Government Area, Borno State, as part of Operation HADIN KAI. The Federal Government confirmed the area had been designated a high-risk zone with existing advisories restricting civilian presence. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, stated the operation was intelligence-led and targeted an active insurgent corridor. The Jilli axis, locally known as "Kasu Daulaye" or the terrorists' market, has served as a hub for Boko Haram and ISWAP operatives to collect levies, coordinate attacks, and procure supplies. On April 12, a 15-year-old ISWAP courier, Tijjani, was apprehended in Ngamdu and admitted to transporting funds and logistics from Jilli. Governor Babagana Zulum confirmed that Jilli and Gazabure markets were officially closed five years ago due to insurgent control. The Bindul–Jilli axis has been linked to multiple attacks, including an IED blast in January and coordinated assaults on April 9 in Ngamdu and Benisheikh. The Federal Government expressed regret over any civilian casualties, extended condolences, and ordered a full independent investigation into the strike. Humanitarian support is being coordinated with Borno and Yobe State governments, NEMA, and SEMA. The government urged compliance with security advisories and responsible media reporting.
Alhaji Mohammed Idris's statement reveals an uncomfortable contradiction: the government insists the Jilli strike was precise and justified, yet simultaneously admits a 15-year-old courier was still operating freely in the area days after the operation. This raises serious questions about the effectiveness of both intelligence and military execution. If a child linked to ISWAP could move between terrorist nodes so soon after a major air assault, the claim of a fully disrupted network appears overstated.
The deeper issue lies in the normalization of long-standing insurgent control over territories like Jilli, which has functioned openly as a "terrorist market" for years. The fact that markets were shut down five years ago but remained operational under Boko Haram and ISWAP rule underscores a prolonged failure to project state authority. Even with Operation HADIN KAI, the military's reach seems limited to periodic strikes rather than sustained ground dominance. The use of minors like Tijjani for logistics also reflects how deeply terrorism has embedded itself in the social fabric of the region.
For civilians in Borno, especially in Gubio and surrounding areas, the reality is a life caught between insurgent coercion and military operations. Those who may have remained in or near Jilli despite advisories likely did so out of necessity, not defiance. The promise of humanitarian support is welcome, but it follows a pattern where aid comes only after harm is done. The recurring designation of areas as high-risk without reclamation leaves populations in limbo.
This incident fits a broader pattern: military operations that achieve tactical success but fail to translate into lasting security or governance. The government's focus on convictions—386 in a recent trial—does little to address the territorial vacuum that allows terrorism to persist. Without holding ground and restoring civilian administration, airstrikes will remain temporary fixes in a war with no endgame.
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