Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Christopher Musa, has issued a strong warning that individuals aiding or supporting terrorist groups will be treated as enemies of the state. His remarks come in the aftermath of a controversial Nigerian Air Force airstrike that has sparked national and international debate.
Speaking after a meeting with Uba Sani at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna, the minister emphasized a tougher stance against those indirectly enabling terrorism. According to him, anyone found trading with or providing logistical support to armed groups would face the same consequences as the terrorists themselves.
The warning follows an April 11 airstrike carried out by the Nigerian Air Force near Jilli village in Borno State. Military authorities described the operation as an intelligence-driven attack targeting a logistics base linked to the extremist faction Islamic State West Africa Province. Officials claimed that the strike successfully neutralized several militants.
However, the operation has drawn criticism after reports from residents and Amnesty International suggested that dozens of civilians may have been killed during a busy weekly market. Estimates of civilian casualties reportedly range from about 50 to over 200, with concerns raised about the deaths of women and children.
In response to the conflicting accounts, the Nigerian Air Force has initiated a fact-finding investigation to determine the accuracy of the claims and assess the impact of the strike. The development has triggered mixed reactions across the country. While the presidency has defended the operation as necessary in the fight against insurgency, opposition figures have called for improved military training, intelligence accuracy, and accountability to prevent civilian harm.
Reaffirming the government’s new approach, Musa stated that the fight against terrorism must extend beyond armed combatants to include their networks of support. He stressed that anyone found complicit in sustaining terrorist activities would be identified and treated accordingly under the law.
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The incident highlights the ongoing security challenges in northeastern Nigeria and raises fresh concerns about balancing counterterrorism efforts with the protection of civilian lives.
