Lawan Calls for Probe into Yobe Airstrike Killing Civilians

On April 11, 2023, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, the former President of the Nigerian Senate and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, demanded an independent investigation into a devastating military airstrike in Yobe State that allegedly killed 100 civilians. The incident occurred in the Jilli Futchimiram community of Geidam Local Government Area, where military jets targeted suspected Boko Haram insurgents, resulting in a bomb hitting a local market during peak trading hours.

Eyewitnesses reported multiple aircraft involved in the operation, leading to massive casualties, with at least 35 critically injured victims admitted to Geidam General Hospital. Lawan expressed deep sorrow over the incident, highlighting the need for the military to balance its operations against insurgents with the protection of civilian lives.

He called on the federal government and military authorities to ensure full transparency and conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the strike. Lawan also extended condolences to Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni and urged security agencies to adopt intelligence-driven strategies to prevent civilian casualties in future operations.