Sheikh Gumi Calls for Investigation into Nigerian Air Force Airstrike Incident

Ahmad Gumi, a prominent Islamic cleric from Gumi, is calling for an immediate investigation into the Nigerian Air Force airstrike that allegedly killed over 50 civilians at a weekly market in Jilli village, located on the Borno–Yobe border.

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In a post on Facebook on Sunday, Gumi raised questions about the accountability of the operation, seeking to know who authorized and carried out the airstrike that resulted in the loss of innocent civilian lives.

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Gumi drew attention to past incidents, including the Tudun Biri bombing and reported airstrikes in Nasarawa and Sokoto, which he described as part of a disturbing pattern of attacks on non-combatants.

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According to Gumi, the fight against terrorism cannot be won by putting civilian lives at risk, and he warned that such operations could lead to a loss of public trust.

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Gumi also urged the Senate to promptly initiate hearings into what he termed as repeated "mistakes" involving the bombing of villages, markets, and other civilian locations.

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Gumi posed a series of questions, asking "Who are the pilots behind these bomb releases on innocent locals?" and cited examples such as the Tudun Biri incident, the Nasarawa attack on a herdsmen trailer, and the Sokoto attack.

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Gumi emphasized that "Terror cannot be fought with another terror" and stressed the need for immediate Senate hearings into the alleged "mistakes" involving the bombing of civilian targets.

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Gumi demanded "answers not condolences" in response to the airstrike that reportedly hit a weekly market in Jilli village on the border of Borno State and Yobe State on Saturday evening.