A survivor of the deadly Nigerian Air Force airstrike on Jilli’s busy weekly market has recounted the terrifying moment bombs rained down without any prior warning.
Mala Garba, 42, currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Maiduguri, described the attack in chilling terms:
“The airstrike hit the entire Jilli town. All of us were living in the town. There was no warning.”
He added:
“I don’t know if there were jihadists at the market. We are just ordinary people.”
Another survivor, who had gone to the market to buy animals, narrated how the attack unfolded shortly after evening prayers:
“I went to the market with my horse. All of a sudden, a jet came. I didn’t even know what was going on, and everyone there did not pay attention to the jet. We were there after Maghrib prayer around six before the strike began.
“Three jets came, sometimes three, sometimes two. They were interchanging. The first one came, dropped fire, the second one came and dropped its own too.”
A third eyewitness, Ahmed Ali, 43, a trader in medical supplies, told Reuters:
“I became so scared and attempted to run away, but a friend dragged me and we all lay on the ground.”
Another injured victim said:
“I was with about 30 people and we all fell down after being struck.”
Multiple survivors stressed that the market was fully active, with traders and buyers going about their normal business when the jets suddenly appeared and began bombing without any warning or evacuation notice.
