By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

At least 56 people, mostly traders, are feared dead and 14 others hospitalized after an airstrike struck a weekly market on the Borno–Yobe border on Saturday.

The attack occurred at Jilli Market, which lies between Gubio and Geidam Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Borno and Yobe States, respectively. The market is a major hub for traders and buyers from surrounding communities, including Gubio, Chiweram, and Benisheikh in Borno, as well as Gurokayeya and Geidam in Yobe.

The airstrike is believed to have been carried out during a military operation targeting suspected Boko Haram insurgents. Multiple sources disclosed that a fighter jet was tracking a group of suspected insurgents who had reportedly come to the market to collect levies from traders and obtain supplies. However, the strike apparently missed its intended target.

An eyewitness who participated in rescue efforts described the scene:

“The incident happened around 2:46 p.m. while business activities were ongoing. Four fighter jets carried out the attack, though the fourth jet was not clearly visible. We only heard the sound of explosions.

“I counted 56 corpses myself and helped rescue two injured people, taking them to the hospital. I believe the number of casualties may be higher, as more bodies are still being recovered.”

The councillor of Fichimaram Ward, Malam Lawan Zanna, confirmed the incident to Daily Trust. He stated that about 20 people had been admitted to the Specialist Hospital in Geidam, Yobe State.

“The incident occurred at Jilli village’s weekly market under Fichimaram Ward in Geidam LGA. From the information available to us, it was an airstrike.

“When the jets launched their attack, people panicked and began to run, but the strikes continued. As we speak, over 30 people have been killed.

“More than 20 people were hospitalized in Geidam. Two were referred to the Teaching Hospital in Damaturu. Out of those receiving treatment, nine have died, bringing the death toll to over 30,” he said.

The Special Adviser to the Yobe State Governor on Security Matters, Brigadier General Abdulsalam Dahiru (rtd), confirmed the incident but stated that it occurred within Borno State.

“I have spoken with the chairman of Geidam LGA, who informed me that Jilli village falls under Gubio LGA of Borno State. You may contact officials in Maiduguri for further details,” he said.

As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Air Force had not issued an official statement on the incident.

A prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Malam Inuwa Waya, has praised the administration of Abba Kabir Yusuf for what he described as significant strides in reforming land administration in Kano State.

Waya made the remarks during an interactive session with members of the Kano Online Media Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, where he assessed the performance of the current administration after over two years in office.

According to him, although the administration is just past the midpoint of its four-year tenure, it has already demonstrated a strong commitment to institutional integrity and governance reforms. He emphasized that every government operates within a four-year constitutional lifespan, and the Yusuf-led administration has made effective use of its time so far.

Speaking on economic development, Waya noted that the state government has initiated several projects aimed at boosting Kano’s economy, with particular attention to land administration reforms. He said the sector, which was previously plagued by irregularities and fraudulent practices, has undergone significant sanitization under the current leadership.

“Before now, land administration in Kano was characterized by widespread fraud and abuse. The present government has taken decisive steps to restore order and ensure that the state’s master plan is not distorted,” Waya stated.

He further highlighted the government’s enforcement measures, noting that authorities have intensified efforts to investigate and prosecute offenders involved in land-related malpractice. According to him, these actions have sent a strong signal that fraudulent dealings in land administration will no longer be tolerated.

Waya commended Governor Yusuf for his leadership and credited part of the success to the contributions of key officials, including Abduljabbar M. Umar,the commissioner of land and physical planning whom he described as a dynamic and capable aide supporting the reform agenda.

Malam Inuwa calls for continued support for the administration’s policies, stressing that sustained reforms in land administration would play a critical role in enhancing transparency, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable urban development in Kano State.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized President Bola Tinubu for comparing Nigeria’s petrol prices with those of other African nations, arguing that such a comparison ignores the severe economic hardship facing Nigerians.

In a statement issued on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president described the President’s remarks as misplaced and disconnected from the economic realities on the ground.

President Tinubu had, during a visit to Bayelsa State on Friday, noted that petrol prices in Nigeria remain lower than in countries like Kenya. While acknowledging the pain caused by rising costs, he urged Nigerians to be grateful for the relatively lower pump prices and promised relief measures.

Reacting sharply, Atiku said the President’s selective use of fuel prices as a metric of economic well-being overlooks more critical indicators such as purchasing power, income levels, and the overall cost of living.

“It is both curious and troubling that the President would isolate fuel prices as a metric of economic comfort while ignoring the far more critical indicators of purchasing power, income levels, and cost of living,” Atiku said.

“This selective reasoning betrays either a fundamental misunderstanding of economic realities or a deliberate attempt to deflect from policy failures.”

He acknowledged that Nigeria’s petrol prices may appear lower than those in Kenya or South Africa, but argued that such comparisons collapse when placed against the broader economic context. “Nigeria today is more expensive to live in than Kenya, with the average cost of living significantly higher, despite lower fuel prices,” he added.

Atiku also highlighted the widening gap in earnings between the two countries. “Kenya’s GDP per capita is nearly double that of Nigeria, and a minimum wage earner in Nairobi takes home the equivalent of about ₦170,000—more than twice Nigeria’s ₦70,000,” he said.

“In effect, while a Kenyan earns more and pays more, a Nigerian earns far less and is forced to survive under crushing economic pressure. This is the reality the President chose to ignore.”

The former vice president further criticized Nigeria’s wage structure for failing to reflect regional economic disparities, warning that the current economic environment has severely eroded living standards.

“The implication is clear: affordability is not defined by price alone, but by the relationship between income and expenditure. On this measure, Nigerians have never had it worse,” Atiku stated.

He cautioned that a government which relies on selective comparisons while its citizens grapple with rising poverty, inflation, and declining living standards risks appearing not only out of touch but indifferent.

“It is, therefore, deeply disappointing that at a time when citizens expect empathy, clarity, and decisive leadership, the President has chosen the path of statistical convenience,” he concluded.