Presidency Atiku Yobe airstrike clash intensifies as government defends Yobe strike and labels former vice president a questionable patriot
The Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on Monday, April 14, 2026, in Abuja, issued a strong rebuke of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar following his criticism of a controversial military air strike in Jilli Market, Yobe State, describing him as a “questionable patriot.”
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The Presidency Atiku Yobe airstrike clash escalated after reports of the weekend military operation, which local sources claim resulted in over 100 civilian deaths, while government authorities maintain it was a precision strike on terrorist logistics infrastructure.
Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, led the response, accusing Atiku Abubakar of politicising national security matters and attempting to undermine the morale of the Armed Forces.
Dare insisted that the Nigerian Air Force acted on intelligence-led operations targeting Boko Haram and ISWAP elements, stressing that the location had evolved beyond a civilian marketplace.
“While the location may still be referred to as Jilli Market, it has not functioned as a legitimate civilian marketplace in any meaningful sense,” Dare said.
He further argued that the area had been repurposed as a logistics hub used by insurgent groups, adding that individuals present during the strike were linked to militant supply operations.
The Presidency Atiku Yobe airstrike clash deepened as the government rejected claims from human rights organisations and local witnesses who described the incident as a civilian massacre involving women and children.
Dare described Atiku’s remarks as “reckless” and accused him of exploiting a sensitive security situation for political advantage.
He maintained that the military operation was part of a broader effort to dismantle terrorist enclaves across the North-East, urging political leaders to support ongoing counter-insurgency efforts.
The Presidency also pointed to what it called inconsistencies in opposition rhetoric, noting that critics often demand stronger action against insecurity while condemning military operations when they occur.
“That is not principled opposition, it is opportunism,” Dare said, intensifying the government’s rebuttal.
Amnesty International and local survivors have, however, continued to allege that civilians were among the victims of the strike, heightening public debate over the true impact of the operation.
The Presidency has called for restraint and urged national stakeholders to rely on verified intelligence rather than what it described as “selective outrage.”
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The Presidency Atiku Yobe airstrike clash is expected to further fuel political tensions as scrutiny of military operations in civilian-populated areas continues.
