A storm of controversy has erupted following claims by Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Christopher Musa, that civilians killed in last week’s fighter jet strike on Jilli Market were not innocent victims.
The assertion has drawn sharp criticism from security analysts, with Dr. Hashim Salaudeen and Okechukwu Nwagunma leading the pushback, describing the statement as “deeply troubling” and potentially dismissive of civilian casualties in conflict zones.
The airstrike, which targeted Jilli Market—situated along the volatile corridor between Borno State and Yobe State—reportedly left scores dead, sparking outrage and renewed concerns over the rules of engagement in Nigeria’s counter-insurgency operations.
Reacting to the minister’s position, the experts argued that branding victims as non-innocent without transparent investigation risks undermining public trust and could violate international humanitarian standards. They insisted that markets, by their nature, are civilian spaces and must be treated with utmost caution during military operations.
“This narrative is dangerous,” one of the experts warned, stressing that even in insurgency-hit regions, the burden of proof lies on authorities to clearly distinguish combatants from non-combatants.
The controversy has reignited calls for an independent probe into the incident, with rights advocates demanding accountability and clarity over the circumstances surrounding the strike.
As the debate intensifies, the Jilli tragedy now sits at the heart of a broader national conversation: how to balance aggressive counter-terrorism efforts with the protection of innocent lives.
Source:@Vanguard Newspapers
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