Former Senate President and Yobe North Senator, Ahmad Lawan, has called for a full investigation into a military airstrike in Yobe State that reportedly caused significant civilian casualties.
Lawan expressed deep concern over reports that an air operation targeting suspected Boko Haram fighters struck a busy market in Jilli Futchimiram, Geidam Local Government Area, along the Borno–Yobe border.
In a statement issued on Monday, he said he was alarmed by eyewitness accounts suggesting that multiple military jets were involved in the operation, which allegedly hit a civilian market instead of only militant positions.
Reports from the area claimed that more than 100 people may have died, while dozens others sustained injuries. Medical personnel at Geidam General Hospital were said to have received at least 35 severely injured victims, with fears that the death toll could still increase.
While acknowledging the military’s efforts in combating insurgency, Lawan stressed the difficulty of distinguishing militants from civilians in conflict zones, but insisted that the scale of the incident required urgent scrutiny.
He urged authorities to carry out a transparent and independent inquiry, saying victims—mostly civilians engaged in their daily activities—deserve justice and answers. He also appealed for medical support and compensation for affected families.
Lawan extended condolences to the Yobe State Government led by Mai Mala Buni, as well as to the people of Geidam and families of those killed or injured.
He further called on the Federal Government and military leadership to ensure investigators have unrestricted access to the scene and to prioritize care for survivors, warning that the fight against terrorism must never diminish the value of innocent lives.
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