Former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, has described the recent airstrike on Jilli Market along the Borno–Yobe border as “deeply unfortunate and painful,” following reports that more than 50 people were killed and several others injured.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Buratai said the operation was a targeted military strike based on credible intelligence indicating that insurgent groups, including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province, were using the weekly market as a hub for logistics, including collecting illegal levies, procuring supplies, and coordinating attacks.
While expressing sympathy for victims, Buratai commended the Nigerian Air Force for what he described as professionalism, courage, and reliance on intelligence in carrying out the operation.
He further characterised Jilli Market as a long-standing “terrorist logistics hub,” noting that security forces had previously targeted and shut down the location during past operations.
“The public should understand the history of Jilli Market. It has long been a notorious terrorist logistics hub,” he said, referencing earlier military campaigns, including operations conducted in 2018 where troops reportedly engaged insurgents in the area.
According to him, despite repeated shutdowns, the market continued to function with the alleged cooperation of individuals who traded with insurgents.
Buratai stated that while the loss of innocent lives was regrettable, responsibility lies with insurgents who, he claimed, deliberately operate within civilian areas.
“It is deeply regrettable that innocent lives may have been caught in the strike, but the sole responsibility rests with the terrorists who deliberately embed themselves within civilian spaces as human shields,” he said.
He urged residents of surrounding communities, including Geidam, Gubio, Damasak, and Ngamdu, to avoid patronising markets allegedly infiltrated by armed groups, warning that continued interaction with such areas could expose civilians to danger.
Buratai maintained that the armed forces acted on legitimate intelligence and stressed the need for sustained military operations alongside civilian cooperation in combating insurgency.
The airstrike and its aftermath have drawn attention to ongoing security challenges in Nigeria’s North-East, as well as concerns over civilian safety in conflict zones.
