The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), has defended the recent airstrike on Jilli in Borno State, insisting that those killed were not innocent civilians but individuals aiding insurgents.
Musa, who spoke during an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday following a security meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu, said the operation was based on credible intelligence and targeted a known logistics hub for terrorist groups.
“There was no innocent person there. Anybody in that location knew what they were doing. They were there for business with terrorists,” he said.
The airstrike has sparked controversy amid reports of civilian casualties, raising concerns over military operations in conflict zones.
However, the minister dismissed claims of error, maintaining that the military acted on verified intelligence.
“We moved based on intelligence, identified the location, and struck the target. It was a deliberate operation,” he added.
Musa explained that the Jilli area had long been classified as a restricted zone due to its use by insurgents and their collaborators.
According to him, the location functioned as a supply point where individuals delivered food, fuel and other materials to terrorist groups.
“That place is not a normal civilian market. It is a meeting point for terrorists and those supporting them,” he said.
He noted that economic gains often attract individuals to such areas, citing instances where goods are sold at inflated prices to insurgents.
“If you take a bag of rice there, you can sell it for as much as N150,000. People go there deliberately, knowing who they are dealing with,” he stated.
The minister stressed that those who knowingly provide support to insurgents cannot be regarded as innocent under the law.
“He who supports a terrorist is one of them. Such actions sustain their operations,” he said.
He, however, acknowledged that some individuals may be forced into cooperation, distinguishing them from those who willingly engage in such activities for profit.
Musa also questioned reports of high casualty figures, noting the lack of verifiable evidence.
“Did anyone provide pictures or confirm those numbers?” he asked.
He added that local authorities familiar with the area had corroborated that Jilli was not a typical civilian settlement.
“Anybody who knows that area understands its nature. It had largely been evacuated,” he said.
The minister emphasised that civilian collaboration with insurgents remains a major factor prolonging insecurity in the North-East.
“These logisticians sustain them. Without such support, their operations would be significantly weakened,” he said.
He warned that individuals who expose themselves by engaging with insurgents risk being caught in military operations.
“If you place yourself in such an environment, you become part of the threat,” Musa added.
