Anyone Supporting Bandits Will Be Treated Like A Terrorist – Christopher Musa

The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has warned that anyone helping bandits or terrorist groups in any way, will now be treated as part of the criminal network.

He gave the warning during a security council meeting in Kaduna while reacting to the recent military airstrike on Jilli market.

The warning followed reports that more than 100 civilians were killed and several others injured in the bombing.

In his speech, Musa stressed that anyone found working with or assisting terrorists would face the same consequences as the criminals themselves.

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

“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 described as a precision strike aimed at a suspected terrorist hideout, logistics base, and collaborators in the Jilli area of Gubio Local Government Area.

The location was said to be a known movement route and gathering point for fighters linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and their associates.

The Yobe State Government also explained that the strike was part of an operation targeting suspected Boko Haram insurgents in the area.

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