A former Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, has called for a transparent and independent investigation into the recent airstrike that reportedly killed dozens of civilians at Jilli Market along the Borno–Yobe border.
PUNCH Online reported that no fewer than 30 people, mostly traders, were said to have died while 40 others sustained injuries in the Saturday incident, which occurred at a market between Gubio and Geidam Local Government Areas of Borno and Yobe states.
The airstrike was reportedly carried out during a military operation targeting suspected Boko Haram insurgents.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage across the country, with concerns growing over what observers describe as a recurring pattern of accidental strikes, referencing previous tragedies such as the Tudun Biri village bombing and the Zurmi airstrikes.
In a statement on Monday, Lawan expressed sorrow over the incident while acknowledging the sacrifices of the Nigerian Armed Forces in the fight against insurgency.
He said, “I am deeply saddened and disturbed by reports emanating from Jilli Futchimiram in Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe State, where a military airstrike targeting suspected Boko Haram insurgents has reportedly led to catastrophic loss of civilian lives.”
He noted that eyewitness accounts indicated the involvement of multiple aircraft, adding that the strike reportedly hit a market, leaving several dead and many others injured, with fears that the toll could rise.
While stressing the complexities of counterinsurgency operations, Lawan said the scale of the tragedy necessitated an independent inquiry.
“While I fully appreciate the enormous sacrifices of our armed forces, the reported scale of this tragedy demands that we pause and ask hard questions. The victims deserve answers and justice,” he said.
Lawan also extended condolences to Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, the state government, and families of victims, praying for the repose of the dead and quick recovery of the injured.
He further urged the Federal Government and military authorities to allow full access for investigators, ensure medical treatment for survivors, and provide compensation for affected families, warning against allowing the fight against terrorism to erode the sanctity of innocent lives.
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