By Ghazali Ibrahim
Armed insurgents linked to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) reportedly blocked the Maiduguri–Damaturu highway, one of northeast Nigeria’s most important routes, in protest over a recent military airstrike on a market in Jilli.
According to emerging reports and videos circulating online posted by a counter terrorism expert @mobilisingniger on X, the fighters mounted a blockade on the highway today, disrupting movement between Borno and Yobe states.
The action is believed to be a reaction to the controversial airstrike that hit Jilli market, an area long associated with insurgent activity.
The incident follows a Nigerian military air raid on Jilli, a village near the Borno–Yobe border, which authorities said targeted a known militant enclave.
However, multiple reports indicate that the strike caused heavy civilian casualties, with estimates ranging from over 100 to about 200 deaths.
The Federal Government has since ordered an investigation into the operation, while maintaining that the strike was based on intelligence and aimed at terrorist targets.
Analysts warn that such incidents often fuel retaliation and propaganda by insurgent groups, potentially escalating violence in the region.
As of the time of filing this report, there is no official statement from the Nigerian military confirming the highway blockade.
However, the Maiduguri–Damaturu road remains a critical and often targeted corridor in the long-running insurgency in northeastern Nigeria.
Security experts say any disruption along the route poses serious risks to civilian movement, humanitarian access, and military operations in the region.
