‘We need answers’– Sheikh Gumi demands probe over NAF airstrike

Ahmad Gumi, Islamic cleric has called for an urgent investigation into an alleged Nigerian Air Force strike that reportedly killed more than 50 civilians in Jilli village along the Borno–Yobe border.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, Gumi questioned who authorised the operation and demanded accountability for the reported deaths, insisting that those responsible must be identified.

He referenced previous incidents, including the Tudun Biri bombing and other reported strikes in Nasarawa and Sokoto, describing them as part of a worrying pattern of civilian casualties.

“Who are the pilots behind these bomb releases on innocent locals?” he asked.

“Tudun biri, Nasarawa attack on herdsmen trailer, Sokoto attack etc are just the few ones recorded. Terror cannot be fought with another terror,” he added.

Gumi called on the Senate to immediately launch hearings into what he described as repeated “mistakes” involving airstrikes on villages, markets and civilian locations.

“We need answers not condolences,” he said.

The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday evening during peak trading hours at Jilli market, with eyewitnesses claiming multiple fighter jets were involved.

Abdulsalam Dahiru, the special adviser to the Yobe state governor on Security Matters confirmed the strike but did not provide further details.

Military authorities had said earlier that such operations are usually targeted at terrorist positions in the region.