From: Femi Oyelola in Kaduna
Christopher Musa, Nigeria’s Minister of Defense, has warned that anyone supporting or trading with bandits or terrorists groups will be treated as insurgents.
He issued this warning during a security council meeting in Kaduna State, while responding to the recent military air strike on Jilli market, where over 100 civilians were reportedly killed and many others injured.
“A friend of a thief is a thief, I’ve said that several times,” Musa said. “Anybody doing any trading or providing support to them, if we find you with them, we’ll treat you like the bandits or terrorists. So, people should know that if they want to avoid harm, they should stay away from those terrorists and not support them.”
According to the military, the operation was a precise strike targeting a suspected terrorist enclave, logistics hub, and collaborators in the Jilli area of Gubio LGA.
They said the location was identified as a movement corridor and gathering point for fighters linked to the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) and their associates.
The Yobe State Government stated that the strike was part of a military effort against suspected Boko Haram insurgents in the area. However, Amnesty International condemned the operation, claiming that about 100 non-combatants were killed during the bombing.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
