Dare Babalola
The Presidency on Monday pushed back against comments made by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar regarding the recent airstrike in Jilli Market, located along the Borno–Yobe border, describing his position as misleading and harmful to ongoing counter-terrorism operations.
The reaction came from the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Communications, Sunday Dare, who responded in a post on his verified X handle, saying the former vice president’s criticism distorted the intent and outcome of the military operation.
Dare insisted that the Nigerian Air Force conducted “precision, intelligence-driven strikes” targeting terrorist positions in the Jilli axis, stressing that the location had long ceased to function as a conventional civilian market.
According to him, the area—still commonly referred to as Jilli Market—had been overtaken over time and repurposed by insurgent groups, including Boko Haram and ISWAP, as a logistics base supporting their operations.
He explained that the military action was based on credible intelligence and aimed at disrupting terrorist supply chains rather than harming civilians.
“The strikes were conducted on confirmed insurgent positions within the Jilli axis, following verified intelligence indicating terrorist activity in the area,” Dare said.
He further argued that continued description of the site as a civilian market was misleading, noting that it had become an operational hub for fighters rather than a legitimate trading centre.
“While it may still be called a market, it no longer functions as one in any meaningful civilian capacity,” he added.
Dare also warned that Atiku’s framing of the incident as an attack on civilians could undermine public trust in the military and weaken morale among troops engaged in counter-insurgency operations.
He described the former vice president’s stance as inconsistent, pointing out that Atiku had previously criticised the government for failing to curb insecurity, yet was quick to condemn decisive military action when taken.
“It is difficult to reconcile repeated calls for stronger action against insecurity with the condemnation of intelligence-led operations when they occur,” he said.
The presidential aide urged political and public figures to exercise restraint in commenting on sensitive security operations, stressing that national unity and focus were essential in the fight against terrorism.
