Borno attack: Atiku’s patriotism is questionable” – Tinubu’s aide

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on media and public communication, Sunday Dare on Monday questioned former vice president Atiku Abubakar’s patriotism to Nigeria.

Dare in a post on X condemned the African Democratic (ADC) leader’s reaction to the ongoing fight against terrorism and the military airstrikes that allegedly killed hundreds of residents in airstrikes at Jilli Market in Borno State.

In the post titled, “Atiku: Questionable Patriot”, Dare said it is disappointing that the former vice president is politicising the recent airstrikes at a time when the Nigerian Armed Forces are taking the fight directly to terrorist enclaves.

Slamming Atiku, for stating that the Nigerian government is targeting civilians in the military actions in Borno and some other states, Dare said the Nigerian Air Force carried out targeted, intelligence-led airstrikes on insurgent positions within and around the Jilli axis.

He also stated that the market has for years been overtaken and repurposed as a logistics and trading hub for terrorist elements, including BHT and ISWAP.

“Let us be clear: while the location may still be referred to as “Jilli Market,” it has not functioned as a legitimate civilian marketplace in any meaningful sense. By multiple credible accounts, it has evolved into an operational node within the insurgency’s supply chain—facilitating movement, coordination, and sustenance of violent actors.

“For Atiku Abubakar to ignore this context and frame a legitimate military action as an attack on civilians is not only misleading—it is reckless. It risks distorting public understanding and undermining the morale of those on the frontlines who are daily risking their lives to secure the country.

“What remains difficult to reconcile is the contradiction. He consistently criticises the government for failing to curb insecurity, yet when decisive, intelligence-driven action is taken, he is quick to condemn it. That is not principled opposition—it is opportunism,” Dare said.

Further noting that Nigeria deserves some level of seriousness not selective outrage, the former minister said, “At some point, clarity must prevail. You cannot dine with the devil and still pretend to stand with the masses.”