Airstrike on Jilli Market Was Justified Strike on Terrorist Hub — Buratai

Former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, has defended the recent airstrike on Jilli Market along the Borno–Yobe border, describing it as a necessary military action against a known terrorist stronghold.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Buratai expressed concern over reports that more than 50 people were killed and several others injured in the operation. While acknowledging the tragic loss of innocent lives, he commended the Nigerian Air Force and the intelligence community for what he termed their courage and professionalism.

According to him, the airstrike was based on credible intelligence indicating that insurgent groups, including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province, had been using the weekly market to collect illegal levies, source supplies, and coordinate attacks.

Buratai noted that Jilli Market had long been identified as a terrorist logistics hub, recalling that it was repeatedly targeted and shut down by the Nigerian Army. He referenced operations such as Operation LAST HOLD, during which troops occupied the area and engaged insurgents in multiple confrontations.

“It is deeply regrettable that innocent lives may have been caught in the strike, but the responsibility lies with the terrorists who embed themselves within civilian populations,” he said.

The former army chief urged residents of affected communities, including Geidam, Gubio, Damasak, and Ngamdu, to avoid patronising markets linked to insurgent activities, warning that continued interaction with such locations could expose civilians to danger.

He maintained that the armed forces acted on solid intelligence and struck a legitimate target, stressing that sustained military operations, alongside civilian cooperation, remain crucial in the fight against insurgency.

Buratai also extended condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wished the injured a speedy recovery.