Prominent Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, has called on the Senate to launch a full-scale investigation into recent military airstrikes, arguing that expressions of sympathy are insufficient in the face of recurring civilian casualties.
In a statement shared via his Facebook page on Sunday, Gumi raised concerns about the conduct of military operations and questioned the accountability of those involved. He specifically queried the identity and responsibility of the pilots behind the strikes, referencing past incidents in Tudun Biri, Nasarawa, Sokoto, and other affected communities.
The cleric’s remarks come in the wake of a reported airstrike on a weekly market in Jilli village, located along the border between Borno and Yobe states, which allegedly resulted in civilian deaths. Similar incidents in the past, including the December 2023 bombing in Tudun Biri, Kaduna State, have also led to significant loss of innocent lives.
Reacting to the reports, Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, stated that the Jilli market in Gubio Local Government Area had not been operational for the past five years. In a statement issued through his Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Iliya, the governor described the location as a known enclave for insurgents and their supply networks.
Despite this, Gumi who is widely recognized for advocating dialogue and engaging armed groups in Nigeria’s North-West insisted that repeated reports of airstrikes hitting civilian areas must be thoroughly investigated to ensure accountability and prevent further tragedies.
