Defence Minister defends Jilli airstrike, says targets were terror logistics supporters

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, has defended the controversial airstrike on Jilli in Borno State, insisting that those killed in the operation were not innocent civilians but individuals actively supporting insurgents.

Speaking during an interview on Arise TV on Wednesday, following a high-level security meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu, Musa said the strike was based on credible intelligence and targeted a known hub for terrorist logistics and supplies.

“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 widespread criticism amid reports of civilian casualties, with renewed debate over Nigeria’s counterinsurgency strategy and the balance between military necessity and civilian protection.

However, the Defence Minister dismissed claims of operational error or faulty intelligence, insisting that the military acted on verified information.

“We moved based on intelligence, we identified the location, and we hit the target. It was a deliberate operation,” he said.

Musa explained that the Jilli axis had long been designated a restricted area due to its alleged use by insurgents and their collaborators, describing it as a marketplace for supplies to terrorist groups operating in the North-East.

“That place is not a normal civilian market. It is a point where terrorists meet with those who support them—people who bring in supplies, including items used to sustain their operations,” he said.

He argued that economic incentives often drive participation in such activities, claiming that goods sold in the area fetch extremely high prices due to the risks involved.

“If you take a bag of rice there, you can sell it for as much as N150,000. The attraction is huge. People go there deliberately to make money, fully aware of who they are dealing with,” he said.

The Defence Minister also stated that individuals who knowingly support insurgents cannot be regarded as innocent civilians under the laws of armed conflict.

“He who supports a terrorist is one of them. Your actions enable them to survive, to fight, and to kill others,” he said.

He, however, acknowledged that distinctions exist between coerced civilians and willing collaborators, stressing that the military takes such factors into account during operations.

“There are people who are forced, who are victims themselves—that is different. But those who willingly go into these areas to trade with terrorists are not innocent,” he added.

Musa also questioned casualty figures reported after the strike, calling for verifiable evidence.

“Did anybody show pictures? Did anyone confirm those numbers?” he asked.

He further argued that local collaboration with insurgents remains a key factor sustaining insecurity in the region, insisting that cutting off logistical support would weaken terrorist operations significantly.

“If Nigerians collectively refuse to support these groups, this war can end much faster,” he said.

The airstrike continues to generate reactions from rights groups and affected communities, who have called for an independent investigation into the incident.