Christopher Musa, Minister of Defence, has warned that anyone providing support to or engaging in trade with bandits or terrorist groups will henceforth be treated as an insurgent.
He issued the warning during a security council meeting in Kaduna State while reacting to the recent airstrike by the military on Jilli market.
More than 100 civilians were reportedly killed, with many others injured following the bombing.
“A friend of a thief is a thief. I’ve said that several times,” Musa said.
“Anybody who is trading with them or providing any support — if we find you together with them, we’re going to deal with you like bandits and terrorists.
“So people should understand: if you don’t want to be harmed, please avoid areas where those terrorists are and do not support them.”
According to the military, the operation was a precision strike targeting a suspected terrorist enclave, logistics hub, and collaborators in the Jilli area of Gubio LGA.
It said the location had been identified as a movement corridor and convergence point for fighters linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and their associates.
The Yobe State Government said the strike was part of a military operation aimed at suspected Boko Haram insurgents in the area.
However, Amnesty International condemned the operation, alleging that about 100 non-combatants were killed during the bombing.
