The minister of defence, Christopher Musa has warned that individuals who provide support or engage in trade with bandits or terrorist groups will be treated as insurgents by the federal government.
He issued the warning during a security council meeting in Kaduna State while reacting to the recent military air strike on Jilli market.
More than 100 civilians were reportedly killed, with several others injured, following the bombing.
“A friend of a thief is a thief, I’ve said that severally,” Musa said.
“Anybody that is doing any trading, any support to them, we find you together with them, we’re going to deal with you like the bandits, like the terrorists.
“So people should know if you don’t want to be harmed, please avoid where those terrorists are and don’t give them any support.”
According to the military, the operation was a precision strike targeting a suspected terrorist enclave, logistics hub and collaborators in the Jilli area of Gubio Local Government Area.
The military said the location had been identified as a movement corridor and meeting point for fighters linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and their associates.
The Yobe State Government stated that the strike formed part of an operation targeting suspected Boko Haram militants in the area.
However, Amnesty International condemned the operation, alleging that about 100 non-combatants were killed in the bombing.