Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi has urged authorities to launch an immediate investigation into the Nigerian Air Force airstrike that reportedly killed over 50 civilians at a market in Jilli village, located along the Borno–Yobe border.
The incident, said to have occurred on Saturday evening during peak trading hours, has sparked fresh concern over the impact of military operations on civilian populations in conflict-affected areas.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, April 12, Gumi raised concerns about responsibility for the strike, questioning those who approved and carried out the operation that led to the deaths of non-combatants.
He pointed to previous incidents, including the Tudun Biri bombing and other reported strikes in Nasarawa and Sokoto, suggesting a recurring pattern of operations that have resulted in civilian casualties.
Gumi warned that such developments could erode public trust and complicate efforts to combat insecurity, insisting that military actions must avoid harming innocent people.
“Who are the pilots behind these bomb releases on innocent locals?” he asked.
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He added, “Tudun biri, Nasarawa attack on herdsmen trailer, Sokoto attack etc are just the few ones recorded. Terror cannot be fought with another terror.”
Calling for legislative oversight, the cleric urged the National Assembly to intervene.
“There should be an immediate Senate hearings on these so-called ‘mistakes’ on bombing villages, markets and civilians targets,” he said.
He further stated, “We need answers not condolences.”
Eyewitness accounts indicated that multiple fighter jets participated in the operation.
While reports suggest the strike targeted suspected terrorist positions, several civilians were said to have been caught in the attack, raising questions about operational precision and safeguards.