The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), has defended the military airstrike on Jilli Market in Borno State, stating that those affected were not innocent civilians. He asserted that the market had long been used as a hub for terrorist logistics and financing, with individuals there knowingly supporting insurgent activities. Speaking on ARISE News Prime Time, Musa emphasized that the military acted on credible intelligence indicating active collaboration between traders at the market and terrorist networks. He maintained that no strike is carried out without verification and that the operation was in line with efforts to degrade terrorism in the region. The minister did not provide a specific casualty figure but reiterated that anyone present in the location at the time bore responsibility due to their proximity to terrorist operations. The Defence Headquarters has not released an official statement beyond Musa's comments.
General Christopher Musa's assertion that no innocent person was killed in the Jilli Market airstrike reframes civilian harm as complicity, a dangerous shift in accountability. By declaring that mere presence in a designated zone equates to guilt, the Defence Minister erases the distinction between combatants and non-combatants, a cornerstone of both military ethics and international law.
This justification follows a pattern in counterinsurgency operations where entire communities are treated as suspect due to geography. Musa's reliance on unverified intelligence and the absence of an independent assessment raise concerns about transparency and due process. When markets—spaces of livelihood for thousands—are labelled terrorist hubs without public evidence, it normalizes collective punishment under the guise of security.
Ordinary residents of Borno, particularly traders and displaced persons dependent on local markets, now face heightened risk of being deemed legitimate targets without recourse. Their survival in conflict-affected zones is increasingly criminalized, undermining trust in state protection. This logic may weaken long-term peacebuilding by alienating the very populations the military claims to safeguard.
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