Dare blasts Atiku over Jilli airstrikes, calls criticism ‘Reckless Politics’

ABUJA — The Presidency has accused former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, of politicising the recent airstrikes on Jilli Market in Borno State, describing his comments as misleading and detrimental to national security efforts.

Mr Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Communications, in a post on his X handle (@sundaydareSD), questioned Atiku’s patriotism, saying his reaction to the military operation was “both disappointing and telling.”

In a piece titled “ATIKU: QUESTIONABLE PATRIOT,” Dare faulted the former Vice President for alleging that the government was targeting civilians.

“At a time when our Armed Forces are taking the fight directly to terrorist enclaves, it is both disappointing and telling to see Atiku Abubakar politicise the recent airstrikes at Jilli Market by alleging that the government is targeting civilians,” Dare said.

He explained that the Nigerian Air Force conducted targeted, intelligence-led strikes over the weekend on insurgent positions within and around the Jilli axis.

According to him, although the location is still referred to as Jilli Market, it has, for years, ceased to function as a legitimate civilian marketplace, having been overtaken and repurposed as a logistics hub for terrorist groups, including Boko Haram and ISWAP.

“Let it 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,” Dare said.

He warned that such remarks could distort public understanding and undermine the morale of troops on the frontline.

“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,” he added.

Dare stressed the need for clarity and responsible engagement in matters of national security.

“At some point, clarity must prevail. You cannot dine with the devil and still pretend to stand with the masses. Nigeria deserves seriousness, not selective outrage,” he said.

Meanwhile, Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, confirmed that the weekly Jilli Market in Gubio Local Government Area had been shut down five years ago.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Iliya, Zulum described the location as a “notorious hub” used by insurgents and their logistics suppliers.

“I have been properly briefed on the airstrike carried out by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai on Jilli Market, a border town between Borno and Yobe states.

“Let me state categorically that the Borno State Government closed Jilli and Gazabure markets five years ago,” the governor said.

He added that the state government remains in close consultation with the Yobe State Government and the military hierarchy on the matter.

Zulum emphasised that the state maintains strict coordination with security agencies before resettling communities or reopening markets in insurgency-affected areas, reiterating his administration’s commitment to protecting law-abiding citizens and restoring lasting peace.

He also urged residents to remain vigilant and support security agencies with credible information to aid ongoing operations.

Also reacting, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, described the airstrikes as part of a new operational strategy.

“A friend of a thief is a thief. Anybody who is doing any trading or providing any support to them (terrorists), we will find you together and we will deal with you like bandits, like terrorists,” he said.