The Federal Government has confirmed that the Nigerian Air Force carried out a precision airstrike on April 11 targeting terrorist positions along the Jilli axis in Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State, describing the operation as deliberate and intelligence-driven.
The confirmation came in a statement issued on Tuesday by Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris, who said the strike was executed under Operation HADIN KAI in coordination with ground forces to disrupt insurgent logistics and operational networks in one of the North-East’s most volatile corridors.
Dozens were feared dead and several others injured in the strike.
According to the government, the targeted area — locally known as “Kasu Daulaye,” meaning the terrorists’ market — had long been identified as a stronghold for Boko Haram and ISWAP operatives, and had been under sustained surveillance prior to the operation.
“This was a deliberate, intelligence-led operation, not an indiscriminate attack, conducted in one of the most active insurgent corridors in the North-East,” the statement read.
The government said the intelligence picture was further reinforced following the arrest on April 12 of a 15-year-old ISWAP courier identified as Tijjani, who was apprehended in Ngamdu and allegedly admitted to ferrying funds and logistics between Jilli and other locations. The FG said his arrest highlighted the continued exploitation of minors and civilians by the insurgent groups.
Borno Governor Babagana Zulum’s confirmation that the Jilli and Gazabure markets were officially closed years ago due to insurgent control was cited as additional validation of the intelligence that guided the operation. Security sources also linked the Bindul–Jilli axis to a series of attacks in recent months, including an IED incident in January 2026 and coordinated assaults on Ngamdu and Benisheikh on April 9.
“After a rigorous targeting process, the Nigerian Air Force, working with the Nigerian Army, confirmed the presence of terrorist elements and executed the strike to disrupt supply lines and degrade insurgent capacity,” the statement said.
While affirming the military rationale for the strike, the government extended condolences to families of those affected. “Every Nigerian life is sacred, and any loss of civilian life is deeply regretted,” the statement read.
Idris announced that a full and independent investigation had been ordered to review the intelligence and operational procedures underpinning the strike, with a stated commitment to minimising civilian harm in future operations. The government also confirmed coordination with the Borno and Yobe State Governments, NEMA, and SEMA to provide relief to affected communities.
On the legal front, Attorney General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi disclosed that 386 convictions had been secured from 508 terrorism-related cases at the Federal High Court in Abuja, involving members and collaborators of Boko Haram and ISWAP, with some sentences running to life imprisonment. The trials were observed by representatives of Amnesty International, the Nigerian Bar Association, and the National Human Rights Commission.
The government cautioned civilians in conflict-affected areas to observe security advisories and avoid restricted zones, while also warning the media against publishing unverified information on security matters, saying such reporting risked misleading the public and emboldening terrorists.
“Press freedom must be matched with responsibility,” the statement said. “The public deserves verified and accurate information, especially on matters of national security.”
The Federal Government reaffirmed its resolve to sustain counter-terrorism operations, saying it would not allow the exploitation of tragic incidents to weaken national will or undermine the mission of the armed forces.
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