Mr Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Communications, has accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of playing politics with the recent air strike on Jilli Market in Borno.
Dare’s accusation made in his X handle account @sundaydareSD, also questioned Atiku’s patriotism.
In the article titled: “ATIKU: QUESTIONABLE PATRIOT”, he said the former Vice President’s attitude was “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 lamented.
He recalled that at the weekend, the Nigerian Air Force carried out targeted, intelligence-led airstrikes on insurgent positions within and around the Jilli axis, where the market is.
He also pointed out that the Jilli Market, though still geographically identifiable had, for years, been overtaken and repurposed as a logistics and trading hub for terrorist elements, including Boko Haram terrorists 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 said that it was important for clarity to prevail.
“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.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that Borno Governor, Babagana Zulum, has equally confirmed that the weekly Jilli market in Gubio Local Government Area, where the military carried out an airstrike, was closed five years ago.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Iliya, Zulum described Jilli Market as a “notorious hub” used by insurgents and their logistics suppliers.
“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,” the Governor was quoted as saying, while reacting to the military action.
“I am in close consultation with the Government of Yobe State and the military hierarchy on the matter,” he added.
Zulum explained that the Borno Government maintains close coordination with the military and other security agencies before resettling any community or reopening markets, particularly in areas affected by insurgency.
The statement quoted the governor as reiterating his administration’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding law-abiding citizens and sustaining collaborative efforts with security agencies to restore lasting peace and stability in Borno.
He further urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that would aid ongoing military operations.
Defence minister Christopher Musa has also reacted to the air strikes by declaring that it was “our new strategy”.
“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.
