The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has warned that anyone found providing support or engaging in trade with bandits or terrorist groups will henceforth be treated as an insurgent.

Musa issued the warning during a security council meeting in Kaduna State, while reacting to the recent military airstrike on Jilli market.

The strike reportedly left more than 100 civilians dead and several others injured, according to local accounts.

“A friend of a thief is a thief, I’ve said that severally,” Musa said.

He added: “Anybody that is doing any trading, any support to them, we find you together with them, we’re going to deal with you like the bandits, like the terrorists.

“So people should know if you don’t want to be harmed, please avoid where those terrorists are and don’t give them any support.”

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 Local Government Area.

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 formed part of an ongoing military operation targeting suspected Boko Haram insurgents in the area.

However, Amnesty International condemned the operation, alleging that about 100 non-combatants were killed during the bombing. (Arise News)

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