Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, has called for a probe by the National Assembly into recent Nigerian Air Force airstrikes that reportedly led to civilian casualties, insisting that expressions of sympathy by authorities are insufficient.
Gumi, in a statement shared on Sunday, questioned the conduct of military operations and demanded accountability from those responsible for the strikes.
“Terror cannot be fought with another terror. There should be an immediate Senate hearing on these so-called ‘mistakes’ involving the bombing of villages, markets and other civilian targets. We need answers, not condolences,” he said.
The cleric specifically queried the identities and actions of personnel behind the operations, asking, “Who are the pilots behind these bomb releases on innocent locals?”
His comments followed reports of an airstrike that allegedly hit a weekly market in Jilli village along the border of Borno and Yobe states on Saturday evening.
Sources and eyewitness accounts indicated that no fewer than 30 persons were feared killed in the incident, which reportedly occurred around 4pm during active trading.
A local councillor, Lawan Zannah, was said to have confirmed the casualty figure, adding that over 20 others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Witnesses claimed that multiple fighter jets participated in the operation, with several bodies recovered amid widespread panic among traders and residents.
However, the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, dismissed claims that a functioning market was hit, stating that the Jilli market in Gubio Local Government Area had been closed for about five years.
In a statement issued through his media aide, Dauda Iliya, Zulum described the location as a notorious enclave allegedly used by insurgents and their logistics networks, suggesting that the strike may have targeted terrorist elements.
Also reacting, the Special Adviser to the Yobe State Governor on Security Matters, Abdulsalam Dahiru, confirmed the incident but clarified that Jilli village falls within Borno State territory.
Despite the differing accounts, Gumi maintained that the recurring incidents of accidental airstrikes on civilian populations must be thoroughly investigated to prevent future occurrences.
The cleric, known for advocating dialogue as a strategy to address insecurity in the North-West, stressed that transparency and accountability remain critical in the fight against insurgency.
The Nigerian military has yet to issue a detailed statement clarifying the circumstances surrounding the latest strike as of the time of filing this report.
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