Controversial Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, has called for a full investigation into a recent airstrike by the Nigerian Air Force following reports that dozens of civilians were killed during the operation in northeastern Nigeria.
Gumi made the demand after reports emerged that a military strike allegedly hit a busy weekly market in Jilli village along the Borno-Yobe border, leaving more than 50 people feared dead, many of them traders who had gathered for market activities.
Reacting to the incident in a strongly worded statement shared on social media, the cleric said Nigerians deserve clear answers about how the operation was carried out and who authorised it.
According to him, simply offering condolences to victims and their families is not enough when innocent lives may have been lost during counter-terrorism operations.
Gumi questioned the accountability surrounding the strike, asking authorities to identify those responsible for the bombing and explain the circumstances that led to the alleged civilian casualties.
“Who are the pilots behind these bomb releases on innocent locals?” he asked, stressing that the country must address the growing concerns surrounding air operations in civilian areas.
The cleric also pointed to previous incidents where military airstrikes reportedly resulted in unintended civilian deaths, including the widely reported bombing in Tudun Biri in Kaduna State as well as other alleged strikes in Nasarawa and Sokoto.
According to Gumi, such repeated incidents risk eroding public trust in the military’s operations against insurgent groups if they are not thoroughly investigated.
“Terror cannot be fought with another terror,” he said, urging lawmakers to take immediate action.
He specifically called on the Nigerian Senate to launch a formal inquiry into what he described as recurring “mistakes” involving air raids on villages, markets and other locations where civilians may be present.
“We need answers, not condolences,” he added.
The controversy follows reports that fighter jets were involved in the strike, which reportedly occurred during peak trading hours at the local market. Witnesses said the area was crowded when the bombs were released.
Military authorities have maintained that air operations in the region are typically targeted at terrorist hideouts and militant gatherings linked to insurgent groups operating in the northeast.
However, amid the growing backlash, the Nigerian Air Force has said it has begun reviewing the incident after allegations of civilian casualties surfaced. The military said it takes such reports seriously and has activated a fact-finding investigation team to determine exactly what happened.
The latest development adds to the long-running debate about the challenges of conducting air operations in insurgency-affected areas, where militants often operate close to civilian communities.
For now, families of the victims and observers across the country are waiting to see whether a full investigation will be launched – and whether those responsible will be held accountable if mistakes are confirmed.
