- Safiu Kehinde
The Maiduguri Specialist Hospital has confirmed receiving 21 injured victims of Jilli market airstrikes.
NPO Reported that the Air Component of the North East Joint Tas Force, also known as Operation HADIN KAI, had launched multiple airstrikes on Jilli village located between the Gubio Local Government Area of Borno and the Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe.
While the Nigerian Army had claimed that the attack, targeted at terrorists’ enclave in the abandoned village, was carried out with precision, reports however emerged that one of the airstrikes hit the market near the village, killing over 50 people with several others severely injured and rushed to the hospital.
Confirming the development while addressing newsmen on Monday, the Chief Medical Director of the Maiduguri Specialist Hospital, Shehu Mohammed, said 21 victims were rushed to the hospital.
The victims, according to Mohammed, comprised of five females and 16 males.
He disclosed that they sustained varying degrees with limbs injuries majorly identified while some sustained abdominal and head injuries.
“Here we received about 21 victims multiple blast as well as gunshot wounds from town in between Gubio and Geidam. Most of them sustained various injuries.
“Most of the affected areas are the limbs. But some have abdominal injuries, thoracic, as well as head injuries.
“We’ve started sorting them out except for the critical ones.
“Out of 21, five are female while 16 are male.” He said.
The Medical Chief further classified the injuries in mild, moderate and severe.
He disclosed that those with severe require surgery which had started on some of them.
Mohammed however called for blood donation from members of the public as some of the vicitms need blood before they can be operated upon.
“They came in with various degrees of severity. There are mild ones, moderate, and severe ones. The severe ones are those lying down here.
“They have to be operated. Some have started receiving the operations. So far, everything is available.
“They’ve received all the vaccines that is required. Some require certain units of blood before being operated. We expect the blood to donate blood.” He said.
Meanwhile, the Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, had earlier defended the attack on the market as he labelled it a notorious hub for terrorists and their logistics suppliers.
Zulum disclosed that the market had been officially closed since five years ago with the village abandoned.
“I have been properly briefed on the airstrike carried out by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai on Jilli market, a border town between Borno and Yobe.
“Let me state categorically that the Borno State Government closed Jilli and Gazabure markets five years ago.
“I am in close consultation with the Government of Yobe State and the military hierarchy on the matter,” the governor was quoted as saying.
Zulum however warned residents against aiding, harbouring, or providing logistical support to Boko Haram insurgents in the state.