Presidential spokesperson, Sunday Dare, accuses Atiku of…

Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, has rebuked former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for his comments on the recent military airstrikes in Borno State, accusing him of distorting facts and undermining national security efforts.

In a strongly worded post on his handle

Dare explained that the Nigerian Air Force carried out intelligence-led strikes on identified rebel enclaves in and around the area commonly referred to as Jilli Market.

He argued that although the place retains its name, over the years it has been overtaken and repurposed by terrorist groups, including Boko Haram and ISWAP, as a logistics and coordination centre.

According to him, reliable intelligence has consistently indicated that the area served as a hub for the movement of supplies and fighters, making it a legitimate military target in the ongoing counterinsurgency campaign.

The presidential aide warned that portraying such operations as attacks against civilians not only misinformed the public but also weakened national resolve and eroded the morale of troops engaged in high-risk operations.

He also criticized what he described as a pattern of contradictory statements by Atiku, noting that the former vice president often condemned the government for insecurity but was quick to criticize decisive military actions when they were taken.

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Dare argued that such rhetoric amounted to opportunistic politics, stressing that national security issues required a level of responsibility and restraint, particularly from senior political figures.

He urged stakeholders to support the armed forces and avoid narratives that could embolden rebel elements or create confusion about the objectives of ongoing operations.

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