The Presidency has criticised former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, over his comments on the recent military airstrike on Jilli market in Borno State, describing his remarks as misleading and politically motivated.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, in a statement on Monday, accused Atiku of politicising a military operation targeted at insurgent positions.
Dare said the Nigerian Air Force carried out “targeted, intelligence-led airstrikes” on what he described as insurgent enclaves within the Jilli axis, insisting the location had evolved into a logistics hub for terrorist groups.
“While the location may still be referred to as ‘Jilli Market,’ it has not functioned as a legitimate civilian marketplace in any meaningful sense,” he stated.
He added that the area had been “repurposed as a logistics and trading hub for terrorist elements,” including fighters linked to Boko Haram and ISWAP.
Dare criticised Atiku for describing the operation as an attack on civilians, warning that such claims could undermine public confidence and the morale of security forces.
“For Atiku Abubakar to ignore this context and frame a legitimate military action as an attack on civilians is not only misleading—it is reckless,” he said.
He further described the opposition figure’s stance as contradictory.
“He consistently criticises the government for failing to curb insecurity, yet when decisive, intelligence-driven action is taken, he is quick to condemn it. That is not principled opposition—it is opportunism,” Dare added.
The Presidency also questioned Atiku’s approach to national security discourse, urging greater responsibility in public commentary.
“At some point, clarity must prevail. You cannot dine with the devil and still pretend to stand with the masses. Nigeria deserves seriousness, not selective outrage,” he said.
However, Atiku had earlier condemned the strike, describing it as a “devastating failure” following reports that civilians were affected.
“The Jilli market airstrike that killed scores of innocent traders is not just tragic, but a devastating failure that must outrage every conscience,” he said.
He warned against the repeated loss of civilian lives during military operations.
“While targeting insurgents, innocent Nigerians were once again reduced to collateral damage. How long will citizens remain unsafe both from terrorists and from the very operations meant to protect them?” he added.
The airstrike, carried out under Operation HADIN KAI, has sparked controversy, with conflicting accounts over casualties.
While the military maintained that the location was a verified terrorist logistics hub, local authorities and emergency officials confirmed that civilians were among those affected.
Preliminary reports indicated that over 40 civilians may have been killed, although the exact figure remains unverified.
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.
