₦airaland Forum

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.

According to him, anyone doing business with terrorists constitutes a legitimate military target.

He made this 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.



https://www.google.com/amp/s/thewhistler.ng/military-can-kill-anyone-doing-business-with-terrorists-says-presidency/amp/

Military Can Kill Anyone Doing Business With Terrorists, Says Presidency

Ironfaceman:
Military Can Kill Anyone Doing Business With Terrorists, Says Presidency

I better check the people I do business with are not terrorists then before I sell them my gari!

Unfortunately, I can't just ask my customers if they are terrorists and expect them to tell me if they are, so government better tell me how to detect them, please, and perhaps create an app for that!

100 💯 percent talk
Plus
0 percent action
Equals to Bulaba

Very good IPOB are terrorists, peter obi beware

Well supported

great submission. I think the way to go is enforcing the use of national I'd card. And giving the security agencies mobile card readers to verify the person.


Mynd44 Seun Nlfpmod

budaatum:
I better check the people I do business with are not terrorists then before I sell them my gari!

Unfortunately, I can't just ask my customers if they are terrorists and expect them to tell me if they are, so government better tell me how to detect them, please, and perhaps create an app for that!

budaatum:
I better check the people I do business with are not terrorists then before I sell them my gari!

Unfortunately, I can't just ask my customers if they are terrorists and expect them to tell me if they are, so government better tell me how to detect them, please, and perhaps create an app for that!

Peace loving people don't leave in that area, it in the Timbuktu triangle area. They're trading with terrorist 🤷🏿

Is someone bearing Gumi in Nigeria

Good talk from the Government I personally believe is aimed at desperate opposition and enemies of Nigeria's progress like Atiku, Obi, Gumi, Malami, El Rufai etal.

They want to criticise government of inaction yet rush angrily and sanctimoniously, perhaps because they are complicit actors in the proliferation of terrorism, to attack Government over bombing of "innocent trader".

Zulum has backed Government insisting Jilli Market has been abandoned for five years because of the awareness it is a terror hub no genuinely innocent person should be buying or selling at.

Former COAS Buratai supported the bombing also insisting Jilli Market is an enclave of terrorist and their enablers.

Yet Atiku, not governor of Borno nor a security expert, is insisting on pushing the "innocent traders" narrative. Go figure wise Nigerians.

Gotocourt:
Peace loving people don't leave in that area, it in the Timbuktu triangle area. They're trading with terrorist 🤷🏿

Absolutely. There are parts of Lagos you will never find me in because they are dens of criminality and it is only criminal and drug addicts you will see there.

Good and upright people know not to mingle with criminals, terrorists, Kidnappers etc.