The Nigerian government has defended the recent airstrike on Jilli, a border community between Yobe and Borno states, insisting the operation was deliberate and targeted at terrorist elements, not civilians.

The Presidency said intelligence reports had long identified the area, commonly referred to as Jilli Market, as a major operational base for insurgent groups including Boko Haram and ISWAP.

Senior presidential aide Tope Ajayi described the location as a “legitimate military target,” arguing that it had evolved from a civilian trading hub into a logistics and coordination centre for insurgents.

The airstrike, carried out by the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI on April 11, has sparked widespread concern following reports of civilian casualties.

However, the Yobe State Government backed the Federal Government’s position, maintaining that the operation was intelligence-driven and intentional.

In a statement issued by Dahiru Abdulsalam, security adviser to Governor Mai Mala Buni, authorities insisted the strike was aimed at dismantling a known terrorist enclave in Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State.

“It must be clearly stated that the airstrike was not a mistake,” the statement noted, even as it acknowledged that some civilians, including traders from Geidam in Yobe State, were inadvertently affected.

Injured victims were reportedly evacuated to medical facilities for treatment.

The Presidency also responded sharply to criticism from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who had questioned the operation and raised concerns over civilian deaths.

Presidential spokesman Sunday Dare described Atiku’s remarks as “misleading and detrimental,” warning that such comments could undermine military morale and embolden insurgents.

He argued that referring to the location purely as a civilian marketplace misrepresented its current status, insisting it had become part of the insurgents’ supply chain network.

Despite the official stance, calls for an independent investigation have continued to grow.

Former Senate President Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan expressed concern over reports that more than 100 civilians may have been killed, urging a transparent probe into the incident.

Lawan said the victims deserve justice and called on authorities to provide medical support for survivors and compensation for affected families.

Similarly, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi condemned the loss of civilian lives, stressing the need for improved military capacity and coordination.

He noted that such incidents often reflect operational challenges, including gaps in intelligence coordination and limitations in defence equipment.

Obi urged the Federal Government to invest in modern military hardware, enhance training for personnel, and strengthen collaboration among security agencies to prevent future occurrences.

The incident has once again highlighted the delicate balance between aggressive counter-insurgency operations and the protection of civilian lives in Nigeria’s conflict-affected regions.

While the government maintains that the strike was justified, public scrutiny is likely to intensify as more details emerge.

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A coalition of Nigerian military veterans has faulted the conduct of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, during a recent confrontation with a naval officer in Abuja, demanding an unreserved public apology from him.

The call followed a viral video showing Wike engaging in a heated exchange with naval personnel during an enforcement visit to a disputed plot of land in Gaduwa District of the FCT.

In the footage, the minister was seen berating the officer and allegedly calling him a “fool” after the officer insisted he was acting on superior orders.

Reacting to the incident, the spokesperson of the Coalition of Military Veterans, Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts, condemned Wike’s outburst, describing it as “disrespectful to the Nigerian military and an affront to the dignity of public office.”

“How can a serving minister insult a uniformed officer on camera? Such behaviour is unbecoming of a public officeholder and diminishes the respect attached to his position,” Durowaiye-Herberts said.

The group warned that any attempt to sanction the naval officer involved would be strongly resisted, adding that uniformed personnel represent the authority of the Nigerian state and not the personal interests of individuals.

“Wike should apologise publicly. His action undermines civil-military relations and demeans the office he occupies,” the veterans added.

The incident, which has continued to generate heated debate across social media, has drawn mixed reactions from Nigerians, with many calling for restraint and mutual respect between government officials and security operatives.

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Major General Abdullahi Mohammed (retd.), former Chief of Staff to Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, has passed away at the age of 86.

The retired army officer reportedly died around 1 a.m. on Wednesday in Abuja.

Family sources confirmed the news in Ilorin, describing his death as a major loss to the Ilorin Emirate, the Nigerian military, and the nation at large.

Born in 1939, Mohammed attended the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, in the United Kingdom, and was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1958.

He rose through the ranks to become Director of Military Intelligence and played a key role in the 1975 coup that overthrew General Yakubu Gowon and brought General Murtala Mohammed to power.

Following the coup, he was appointed Governor of the former Benue-Plateau State, serving from July 1975 to March 1976.

Under General Olusegun Obasanjo’s military regime, he served as Director-General of the National Security Organisation (NSO), the forerunner of today’s Department of State Services (DSS), until 1979.

After retiring from the army that same year, Mohammed went into private business and became Managing Director of Atoto Press Limited, a printing firm based in Ilorin.

In 1998, he was recalled to public service as National Security Adviser to then Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, a position he held until Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999.

At the start of the Fourth Republic, Mohammed was appointed Chief of Staff to President Olusegun Obasanjo — a role he continued under President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua until his resignation in 2008.

He was widely regarded as a disciplined soldier, skilled administrator, and an influential figure in Nigeria’s political and security affairs.

The Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) has described his passing as a monumental loss.

In a condolence message signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Nurudeen Ibrahim, on behalf of the National President, Alhaji Abdulmumini Abdullahi, the union said the death was particularly painful at a time Nigeria needs experienced patriots to help steer its course.

The IEDPU praised the late General for his pioneering achievements — being the first son of Ilorin to serve as a state governor and the first to attain the rank of a two-star General in the Nigerian Armed Forces.

The union noted his long-standing support for community development initiatives, including sponsoring the printing of its annual calendar for several years.

It extended condolences to President Bola Tinubu, former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Abdulsalami Abubakar, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, and the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.

Prayers were offered for Allah’s forgiveness and for the deceased to be granted Aljanat Firdaus.

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President Bola Tinubu has carried out a major shake-up in Nigeria’s military hierarchy, appointing new Service Chiefs in a move aimed at strengthening the country’s national security architecture.

According to a statement issued on Friday by Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, General Olufemi Oluyede has been appointed the new Chief of Defence Staff, replacing General Christopher Musa.

Other key appointments include Major-General W. Shaibu as the new Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral I. Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff. Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye retains his position as Chief of Defence Intelligence.

President Tinubu expressed his appreciation to the outgoing Service Chiefs for their patriotic service and leadership, while charging the newly appointed officers to uphold professionalism, vigilance, and unity within the Armed Forces.

The statement added that all appointments take immediate effect.

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