The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Communications, Sunday Dare, has accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of politicising the recent airstrikes on Jilli Market in Borno State.
In a post shared on his X account, Dare questioned Atiku’s patriotism, describing his reaction to the incident as “both disappointing and telling”.
“At a time when our Armed Forces are taking the fight directly to terrorist enclaves, it is both disappointing and telling to see Atiku Abubakar politicise the recent airstrikes at Jilli Market by alleging that the government is targeting civilians,” he said.
Dare explained that the Nigerian Air Force had carried out targeted, intelligence-based strikes on insurgent positions in and around the Jilli axis, where the market is located.
He further argued that although the location is still known as Jilli Market, it has not functioned as a legitimate civilian marketplace for years, having been taken over and repurposed as a logistics hub for terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP.
“Let it be clear: while the location may still be referred to as ‘Jilli Market’, it has not functioned as a legitimate civilian marketplace in any meaningful sense.
“By multiple credible accounts, it has evolved into an operational node within the insurgency’s supply chain—facilitating movement, coordination, and sustenance of violent actors.
“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.
“It risks distorting public understanding and undermining the morale of those on the frontlines who are daily risking their lives to secure the country.
“What remains difficult to reconcile is the contradiction. 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 said.
He stressed the need for clarity in public discourse, warning against selective outrage.
“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 added.
Meanwhile, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum confirmed that the weekly Jilli Market in Gubio Local Government Area had been shut down five years ago.
Describing the location as a “notorious hub” for insurgents and their logistics networks, Zulum stated that the state government had long restricted activities there due to security concerns.
“I have been properly briefed on the airstrike carried out by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai on Jilli market, a border town between Borno and Yobe states.
“Let me state categorically that the Borno State Government closed Jilli and Gazabure markets five years ago,” he said.
The governor added that the state maintains close coordination with the military and other security agencies before reopening any market or resettling communities in conflict-affected areas.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and support security agencies with credible information to aid ongoing operations.
Also reacting, Defence Minister Christopher Musa described the strikes as part of a new military approach to tackling insurgency.
“A friend of a thief is a thief. Anybody who is doing any trading or providing any support to them (terrorists), we will find you together, and we will deal with you like bandits, like terrorists,” he said.