THE Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, has defended the Nigerian military over the controversial airstrike on Jilli village market near the Borno–Yobe border, stating that anyone engaging in business with terrorists constitutes a legitimate military target.
News Point Nigeria reports that Olusegun made the remark in a post on X on Monday while reacting to a tweet by radio broadcaster Osasu Suave, who had questioned whether images circulating online actually depicted a market.
The broadcaster had written, “For once, look at this image again. Does this look like a market to you?”
In response, Olusegun stated, “Anyone who is doing business with terrorists are legitimate military targets for our nation’s armed forces and not civilians.”
His comment comes amid growing controversy surrounding 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 has maintained that the location was a terrorist logistics hub used by fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province, insisting that the operation followed sustained intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance efforts.
According to military authorities, the strike was based on verified intelligence indicating the movement of motorcycles and gun trucks linked to suspected terrorists converging in the area.
However, local sources and emergency authorities have challenged 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 put the death toll at over 40 civilians, although the figures remain unverified amid conflicting accounts.
The Defence Headquarters reiterated that Jilli village had long been identified as a terrorist logistics corridor and a 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, while vehicles and logistics networks were destroyed.
The military also referenced previous attacks on troops in the area, including an incident in January 2026 that reportedly led to the death of eight soldiers, as part of the justification for intensified surveillance operations.
Despite the military’s stance, the Yobe State Government acknowledged that civilians were inadvertently affected.
The State Emergency Management Agency disclosed that the victims included traders from Geidam Local Government Area who had crossed into the area for market activities, adding that emergency response teams had since been deployed.
Meanwhile, Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, described Jilli as a known insurgent-linked area but urged residents to exercise caution and cooperate with security agencies.