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 individuals or groups doing business with terrorists constitute legitimate military targets.
Olusegun made the comment in a post on X on Monday while reacting to concerns raised about the nature of the site struck during the operation.
A radio broadcaster, Osasu Suave, had questioned the visuals circulating online, asking whether the location resembled a market.
Responding, Olusegun wrote: “Anyone who is doing business with terrorists are legitimate military targets for our nation’s armed forces and not civilians.”
The remarks come amid growing controversy surrounding the Nigerian Air Force strike carried out during Operation HADIN KAI at Jilli Saturday market in Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State.
The military has maintained that the location served as a terrorist logistics hub used by fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), insisting the operation was based on credible intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.
Officials said the strike targeted movements of motorcycles and gun trucks linked to suspected insurgents converging in the area.
However, local sources and emergency authorities have disputed the military’s account, saying civilians were affected in what was described as an accidental strike. The Yobe State Emergency Management Agency confirmed civilian casualties.
Preliminary reports from local authorities suggest that more than 40 civilians may have been killed, though the figures remain unverified amid conflicting accounts.
The Defence Headquarters has maintained that Jilli village is a known insurgent logistics corridor and defended the strike as a product of “rigorous targeting procedures.”
The military also referenced previous attacks on troops in the area, including a January 2026 incident that reportedly killed eight soldiers, as part of the justification for increased surveillance and operations.
Despite this, both Borno and Yobe State authorities have acknowledged that civilians were among those affected, with emergency response teams deployed to the scene.
Governor Babagana Zulum described the area as insurgent-linked but urged caution and stronger cooperation between communities and security agencies to prevent further civilian harm.