Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has stated that those killed in the Jilli airstrike in Borno State were not innocent civilians but individuals involved in supporting insurgent activities. Musa made the clarification after a high-level security meeting chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, explaining that the military acted on credible intelligence in targeting what […]
Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has stated that those killed in the Jilli airstrike in Borno State were not innocent civilians but individuals involved in supporting insurgent activities.
Musa made the clarification after a high-level security meeting chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, explaining that the military acted on credible intelligence in targeting what he described as a terrorist logistics hub.
He dismissed allegations of civilian casualties, maintaining that the operation was deliberate and followed thorough planning and verification.
According to the minister, Jilli is not a conventional settlement but a restricted location where insurgents and their collaborators meet to exchange supplies such as food, fuel, and other materials.
He noted that the area attracts traders due to the high financial returns, adding that goods like rice can be sold at prices as high as ₦150,000 per bag.
Musa argued that individuals who knowingly engage in such transactions cannot be considered innocent, as their actions contribute to sustaining insurgent operations.
While acknowledging that some people may be forced into cooperation, he stressed that those who willingly operate in such environments expose themselves to military action as part of efforts to weaken terrorist networks.