The Federal Government has defended the April 11 airstrike on the Jilli axis in Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State, insisting the operation was aimed at disrupting terrorist supply routes rather than targeting civilians.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement issued on Tuesday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the strike was based on credible intelligence and executed by the Nigerian Air Force under Operation HADIN KAI.
He described the mission as precise and deliberate.
“The operation was a deliberate, intelligence-led mission, not an indiscriminate attack,” the minister said.
According to the government, the Jilli axis—locally known as “Kasu Daulaye”—has long been identified as a major insurgent hub where fighters linked to Boko Haram and ISWAP gather, collect levies, and coordinate attacks.
Authorities noted that the area had previously been classified as unsafe, with repeated advisories urging civilians to avoid it due to sustained insurgent activity.
While acknowledging reports of civilian casualties, the government expressed sympathy for affected families.
“Every Nigerian life is sacred, and any loss of civilian life is deeply regretted,” Idris said.
The statement explained that the airstrike followed weeks of surveillance, after a spike in attacks was traced to the Bindul–Jilli corridor. Security sources also linked the location to an earlier improvised explosive device (IED) incident and recent coordinated attacks in Ngamdu and Benisheikh.
Officials further cited the arrest of a 15-year-old ISWAP courier in Ngamdu, identified as Tijjani, who allegedly confessed to transporting funds and supplies between Jilli and other locations—an indication of the network’s operational reach and use of minors.
Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno State, was quoted as saying that Jilli and the nearby Gazabure market had been shut down about five years ago after falling under insurgent control.
Following the incident, the Federal Government ordered a full and independent investigation to assess the conduct of the operation and identify any lapses.
“The protection of civilian lives remains a core obligation of the Armed Forces,” Idris stated.
He added that relief efforts were underway, with federal agencies working alongside the Borno and Yobe State governments to support affected communities.
Residents in conflict-prone areas were advised to adhere strictly to security directives and avoid designated danger zones, while the public was urged to cooperate with security agencies.
The government also cautioned the media against disseminating unverified reports, warning that misinformation could undermine ongoing military operations.
On the broader counterterrorism effort, the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, was cited as saying that hundreds of terrorism-related convictions had recently been secured at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with trials monitored by organisations including Amnesty International, the Nigerian Bar Association, and the National Human Rights Commission.
The government maintained that it would sustain its operations against insurgents and would not allow the incident to derail ongoing efforts to combat terrorism.
