FG says Jilli strike focused on insurgents’ supply chain, not civilians

FG says Jilli strike focused on insurgents’ supply chain, not civilians

The Federal Government has said the April 11 airstrike on the Jilli axis in Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State was aimed at cutting off terrorist supply routes and not civilians.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the operation was carried out after credible intelligence confirmed the presence of insurgents in the area.

According to him, the strike was executed by the Nigerian Air Force under Operation HADIN KAI as part of ongoing efforts to weaken the activities of Boko Haram and ISWAP in the North-East.

“The operation was a deliberate, intelligence-led mission, not an indiscriminate attack,” he said.

The government described the Jilli axis, also known locally as “Kasu Daulaye,” as a long-standing hub for insurgent activities, where fighters gather, collect levies and move supplies. It added that the location had been marked a high-risk zone, with repeated warnings for civilians to stay away.

While reacting to reports of civilian casualties, the government expressed sympathy with affected families and those injured.

“Every Nigerian life is sacred, and any loss of civilian life is deeply regretted,” Idris said.

Officials said the strike came after weeks of monitoring, following a series of attacks linked to the same network operating along the Bindul–Jilli corridor.

The area had earlier been connected to an IED explosion and coordinated attacks in Ngamdu and Benisheikh in the days leading up to the airstrike.

The statement also referred to the arrest of a 15-year-old ISWAP courier in Ngamdu, identified as Tijjani, who allegedly admitted transporting funds and supplies between Jilli and other locations. Authorities said the development showed how active the network remained and how minors were being used in its operations.

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, 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 said it had ordered a full investigation to review the operation and address any gaps if found.

“The protection of civilian lives remains a core obligation of the Armed Forces,” the minister added.

He said steps were being taken to assist affected communities, with federal agencies working alongside the Borno and Yobe State governments to provide relief.

Residents in conflict-prone areas were advised to comply with security directives and avoid restricted locations, while the public was urged to support ongoing military operations.

The government also warned against the spread of unverified information, noting that inaccurate reports could create confusion and undermine security efforts.

On the wider anti-terror campaign, the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, was cited as disclosing that hundreds of convictions had been secured in terrorism-related cases at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The trials were monitored by groups such as Amnesty International, the Nigerian Bar Association and the National Human Rights Commission.

The government said it would sustain its operations against insurgents and would not allow the incident to slow down efforts to tackle terrorism.