Tinubu’s aide backs Borno airstrike, says terrorist collaborators military targets

The Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, has defended the Nigerian military following the controversial airstrike on Jilli village market near the Borno–Yobe border, stating that anyone doing business with terrorists constitutes a legitimate military target.

Olusegun made the comment in a post on X on Monday while reacting to a tweet by a radio broadcaster, Osasu Suave, who questioned whether images circulating online resembled a market.

The broadcaster had written, “For once, look at this image again. Does this look like a market to you?”

Responding, Olusegun stated, “Anyone who is doing business with terrorists are legitimate military targets for our nation’s armed forces and not civilians

The comment comes amid growing controversy over the Nigerian Air Force strike on Jilli Saturday market in Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State, carried out under Operation HADIN KAI on Saturday.

The military said the location was a terrorist logistics hub used by fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province, insisting the operation followed sustained intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.

According to the military, the strike was based on verified intelligence showing movement of motorcycles and gun trucks linked to suspected terrorists converging in the area

However, local sources and emergency authorities have disputed the outcome, with the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency confirming that civilians were affected in what it described as an accidental strike.

Preliminary reports from local authorities placed the death toll at over 40 civilians, though figures remain unverified amid conflicting accounts.

The Defence Headquarters maintained that Jilli village had long been identified as a terrorist logistics corridor and convergence point for insurgents.

A spokesperson for Operation HADIN KAI, Sani Uba, said the strike was executed after “rigorous targeting procedures” supported by intelligence and aerial surveillance.

He added that post-strike assessments indicated that several terrorists were neutralised, with vehicles and logistics networks destroyed.

The military also cited previous attacks on troops in the area, including an incident in January 2026 that reportedly killed eight soldiers, as part of the justification for intensified surveillance.

Despite the military’s position, the Yobe State Government acknowledged that civilians were inadvertently affected.

The State Emergency Management Agency said victims included traders from Geidam LGA who had crossed into the area for market activities, adding that emergency response teams had been deployed.

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, also described Jilli as a known insurgent-linked area but urged caution and cooperation with security agencies.