MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — The State Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri has confirmed the admission of 21 people injured during Saturday’s military airstrike on the Jilli weekly market.
The hospital’s Medical Director, Dr. Shehu Muhammad, stated that the victims, comprising 16 males and five females, are being treated for various blast and gunshot injuries. While many are in stable condition, several remain in critical care following emergency surgeries. The hospital has issued an urgent appeal for members of the public to donate blood to assist in the ongoing treatment.
The casualties followed a Nigerian Air Force operation on Saturday night targeting what the military described as an insurgent logistics hub at the Jilli market, located on the border of Borno and Yobe states. While local sources suggest the death toll among traders and residents could be significant, Governor Babagana Zulum noted that the market had been officially closed to the public for several years due to its proximity to known terror enclaves.
The Nigerian Air Force has since established a fact-finding team to investigate reports of civilian casualties during the mission.
In addition to those brought to Maiduguri, dozens of other survivors are reportedly receiving treatment at the General Hospital in Geidam, Yobe State.
