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The Presidency has taken a swipe at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his criticism of a recent military airstrike in Borno State, accusing him of misrepresenting facts and politicising a counter-insurgency operation.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, defended the operation, describing it as a calculated military action based on credible intelligence.
According to Dare, the Nigerian Air Force conducted “targeted, intelligence-led airstrikes” on what he identified as insurgent enclaves within the Jilli axis, noting that the area had become a key operational base for terrorist groups.
He argued that although the location is still popularly known as Jilli Market, it no longer serves its original civilian purpose.
“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.
Dare further explained that the site had been overtaken by criminal elements.
“repurposed as a logistics and trading hub for terrorist elements,” including fighters associated with Boko Haram and ISWAP.
He criticised Atiku for portraying the strike as an attack on civilians, warning that such narratives could weaken public trust in the military and affect troop morale.
“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.
The presidential aide also accused the opposition figure of inconsistency in his approach to security matters.
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“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.
Taking a broader swipe, he urged more measured public commentary on national security.
“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 operation, expressing concern over reported civilian casualties.
“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 also raised concerns about recurring civilian losses during military engagements.
“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 generated intense debate, with conflicting accounts surrounding its impact.
While military authorities maintain that the location was a verified terrorist logistics hub, local sources and officials have indicated that civilians were among those affected. Preliminary reports suggest that more than 40 civilians may have been killed, although the exact number remains unconfirmed.
A spokesperson for Operation HADIN KAI, Sani Uba, said the strike followed “rigorous targeting procedures” backed by intelligence gathering and aerial surveillance.
He added that assessments after the operation showed that several insurgents were neutralised, with vehicles and logistics infrastructure destroyed.
The military also referenced earlier attacks on troops in the area, including a January 2026 incident in which eight soldiers were reportedly killed, as part of the justification for heightened operations.
Despite the military’s defence, the Yobe State Government acknowledged that civilians were inadvertently affected, further fuelling concerns over the human cost of the operation.
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