Defence Minister Defends Jilli Market Airstrike, Says Terror Collaborators Are Legitimate Targets

Defence Minister Defends Jilli Market Airstrike, Says Terror Collaborators Are Legitimate Targets

Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has defended the recent military operation at Jilli Market, insisting that those present at the location during the airstrike were either terrorists or individuals providing support to insurgent groups.

Speaking in an interview with Trust TV, the minister described the operation as intelligence-driven and carefully coordinated, maintaining that the military acted on credible information before carrying out the strike.

According to Musa, Jilli Market has for years served as a commercial hub linked to communities around the Lake Chad region, where terrorist groups are known to operate. He alleged that some individuals frequenting the market engage in transactions that directly or indirectly benefit insurgents.

The minister argued that terrorism extends beyond those who bear arms, noting that civilians who provide logistics, supplies, financing, or other forms of support to armed groups should also be regarded as part of the terrorist network.

“The terrorists are civilians because they take up arms. If you support those who take up arms directly or indirectly, either by support or supplies, you are terrorists,” Musa said.

He further warned that individuals involved in business dealings with insurgent groups risk becoming legitimate targets during military operations.

“If you make yourself a target, you are a target, especially if you deal with terrorists or those giving them supplies,” he added.

The remarks come amid continuing debates over military operations in conflict-affected areas of Nigeria’s North-East and concerns raised by some stakeholders regarding civilian casualties during counterterrorism campaigns.

The Nigerian military has consistently maintained that its operations are guided by actionable intelligence and are aimed at dismantling terrorist networks, disrupting supply chains, and cutting off sources of support for insurgent groups.

Security operations have intensified in recent months as the Armed Forces continue efforts to combat terrorism, banditry, and other security threats across different parts of the country.

Defence Minister Defends Jilli Market Airstrike, Says Terror Collaborators Are Legitimate Targets