Ex-Army Chief admits civilian deaths are “painful” but insists Jilli Market was a long-used base for Boko Haram and ISWAP operations

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), has defended the Nigerian Air Force airstrike on Jilli Market along the Borno–Yobe border, insisting the operation targeted a known terrorist stronghold.

The strike, which reportedly killed more than 50 people and left several others injured, has drawn widespread concern over civilian casualties in Nigeria’s counterinsurgency campaign in the North-East.

Reacting in a statement on Sunday, Buratai described the loss of innocent lives as “deeply unfortunate and painful,” but praised the Air Force for what he called a precise, intelligence-led operation carried out with professionalism and courage.

He maintained that the strike was based on credible intelligence linking the weekly Jilli Market to insurgent groups, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which he said had long used the location for logistics and coordination.

“Jilli Market has a history as a notorious terrorist logistics hub,” Buratai said, adding that security forces had repeatedly targeted and shut down the area in previous military operations.

He recalled the 2018 Operation LAST HOLD, during which troops reportedly seized the area and engaged insurgents in multiple encounters. Despite those efforts, Buratai said the market continued to operate, allegedly sustained by individuals trading with or supplying militants.

The former army chief argued that insurgents bear responsibility for civilian casualties by operating within populated areas.

“No military sets out to harm civilians. But when a location is dominated by terrorist activity and warnings have gone unheeded for years, the military has a responsibility to act,” he said.

Buratai urged residents in nearby communities—including Geidam, Gubio, Damasak and Ngamdu—to avoid markets linked to insurgent activity and to cooperate with security agencies.

He also extended condolences to families of those killed and wished the injured a quick recovery, while reiterating that the operation struck a legitimate target and calling for continued public support for the armed forces.