Tuesday, April 14, 2026 - The Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, has criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his comments on the airstrikes in Jilli, Borno State, describing them as misleading and politically motivated.
In a statement issued on Monday, Dare faulted Atiku for
alleging that civilians were targeted during the operation, insisting that the
Nigerian Air Force conducted a “targeted, intelligence-led” strike on insurgent
positions.
Atiku had earlier condemned the airstrike on Jilli Market,
which reportedly resulted in the deaths of several traders, calling it a
“devastating failure” that should provoke national outrage.
Responding, Dare said it was “disappointing and telling” for
Atiku to politicize the incident, stressing that the Air Force struck insurgent
locations within and around the Jilli axis.
He explained that although the area is still referred to as
Jilli Market, it has allegedly been taken over and repurposed by terrorist
groups as a logistics and coordination hub.
“For Atiku Abubakar to ignore this context and frame a
legitimate military action as an attack on civilians is not only misleading, it
is reckless,” Dare said, adding that such statements could undermine the morale
of security forces.
Dare further accused the former vice president of
inconsistency, noting that while Atiku often criticizes the government over
insecurity, he also condemns decisive military actions when they are taken.
“What remains difficult to reconcile is the contradiction.
He consistently criticizes the government for failing to curb insecurity, yet
when decisive, intelligence-driven action is taken, he is quick to condemn it.
That is not principled opposition it is opportunism.
“At some point, clarity must prevail. You cannot dine with
the devil and still pretend to stand with the masses. Nigeria deserves
seriousness, not selective outrage,” he added.
0 Comments