Presidency Accuses Atiku of Opportunism Following Military Airstrikes on Insurgent Hub at Jilli Market

Sunday Dare accuses Atiku Abubakar of politicizing Borno airstrikes. Governor Zulum confirms Jilli Market was a terrorist hub closed five years ago.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 15, 2026, 10:04 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Nation

Presidency Rejects Allegations of Civilian Targeting in Borno

The Nigerian government has issued a sharp rebuttal to claims made by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar regarding recent military operations in the Jilli axis of Borno State. Sunday Dare, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Communications, accused the opposition leader of politicizing essential national security efforts. The dispute centers on an intelligence led airstrike conducted by the Nigerian Air Force against positions described by the state as insurgent enclaves. Dare argued that framing these decisive military actions as attacks on the populace is a reckless distortion of reality that undermines the morale of front line troops currently engaged in dismantling terrorist networks.

Jilli Market Identified as Repurposed Terrorist Logistics Node

Official reports from the Presidency clarify that the location targeted in the airstrike, while still geographically known as Jilli Market, has not operated as a civilian trading center for several years. According to credible intelligence accounts, the site has been overtaken and repurposed by Boko Haram and ISWAP elements to serve as a critical operational node. Officials describe the area as a hub for the coordination, movement, and sustenance of violent actors within the insurgency’s supply chain. The government maintains that treating the site as a functional marketplace ignores its evolution into a strategic military target essential to the logistics of regional terror groups.

Governor Zulum Confirms Five Year Closure of Trading Site

Supporting the federal government's position, Borno Governor Babagana Zulum confirmed that the state officially closed the Jilli and Gazabure markets five years ago. In a statement issued through his media office, Zulum described the border town location as a notorious hub utilized by insurgents and their suppliers. The Governor explained that the Borno State Government maintains a strict protocol of coordination with military hierarchy before reopening any markets or resettling communities in areas affected by the insurgency. Zulum’s briefing suggests that any individuals present at the site were operating in violation of long standing state closures and security directives.