Defence Minister Fires Back at Critics Over Jilli Airstrike: “Nobody in That Market Was Innocent – They Were Feeding Terrorists”

By Tgnews Reporter

Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), has strongly defended the Nigerian Air Force’s controversial airstrike on Jilli Market in Borno State, declaring that the area served as a deliberate logistics hub for ISWAP terrorists and that no one operating there could claim innocence.

In a direct response to allegations of civilian casualties following the weekend strike near Jilli village in Gubio Local Government Area, the Minister stated unequivocally: “Nobody in that area (Jilli Market) is innocent. If you take a bag of rice, you will sell it for about N150K. People buy fuel, fill their tanks, sell it to them, and make so much money.”

Gen. Musa made the remarks after meeting with Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani ahead of an expanded security council meeting.

He described the market as a long-known banned zone used by insurgents for sourcing critical supplies, including food items like rice and fuel, which are allegedly diverted to sustain terrorist operations, including the manufacture of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

The Minister adopted a tough new posture, warning that anyone aiding terrorists — even through trade — would be treated as one. “A friend of a thief is a thief,” he said, adding that the military’s strategy now views those providing logistical support to bandits or terrorists as active accomplices.

The airstrike, which the military described as a precision operation targeting an ISWAP enclave and logistics hub along the Borno-Yobe border, has sparked outrage.

Reports from local sources and rights groups claim dozens to over 200 civilians, including traders and possibly women and children attending the weekly market, may have been killed.

Some accounts suggest the area had been under restriction for years due to its links to insurgent activity.

However, the Defence Minister insisted the strike was intelligence-led and necessary, pushing back against what he called attempts to “change the narrative” and portray those present as innocent civilians.

He emphasized that the market’s operators knew exactly why they were there and what they were supplying.

The military has reportedly launched an internal probe into the incident amid growing public scrutiny and calls for accountability. The development comes as the Nigerian government continues its intensified campaign against lingering Boko Haram and ISWAP threats in the Northeast.

Gen. Musa’s comments have divided opinions, with security analysts arguing that blurring the lines between combatants and civilian supporters is a harsh but realistic approach in asymmetric warfare, while critics warn it risks alienating communities and complicating counter-insurgency efforts.

As investigations continue, residents in affected areas and human rights observers are calling for transparency on the exact targets and casualty figures. The Defence Ministry has so far maintained that the operation disrupted a vital terrorist supply line.