SEN. AHMAD EXPRESSES SAD FEELING ON THE AIRSTRIKE AT JILLI FUTCHIMIRAM IN GEIDAM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, YOBE STATE
SEN. AHMAD EXPRESSES SAD FEELING ON THE AIRSTRIKE AT JILLI FUTCHIMIRAM IN GEIDAM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, YOBE STATE
SEN. AHMAD EXPRESSES SAD FEELING ON THE AIRSTRIKE AT JILLI FUTCHIMIRAM IN GEIDAM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, YOBE STATE
Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, PhD, GCON
14th President of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence on Sunday, 12th April, 2026 in a press release expressed a sad feeling toward the killings in Yobe state.
In a press release,he said, ‘I am deeply saddened and disturbed by reports emanating from Jilli Futchimiram in Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe State, where a military airstrike, targeting suspected Boko Haram insurgents, has reportedly led to catastrophic loss of civilian lives.
According to eyewitness accounts, multiple military jets took part in the operation, and the strike hit a local market, leaving over 100 people feared dead and dozens more injured. Medical sources at Geidam General Hospital have confirmed receiving at least 35 severely injured victims, with fears that the casualty count may still rise.
While I fully appreciate the enormous sacrifices of our armed forces in the ongoing fight against insurgency, and the difficulty of distinguishing combatants from civilians in complex environments, the reported scale of this tragedy demands that we pause and ask hard questions. Without prejudice to the integrity of our military, I believe the victims, largely innocent civilians going about their daily livelihoods at a local market, deserve a full, transparent, and independent inquiry. Their families deserve answers and justice.
I extend my heartfelt condolences to His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni, CON, the Yobe State Government, the people of Geidam LGA and the entire Yobe State. My prayers are with the families who have lost loved ones, and I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. May the souls of the departed rest in peace. Amin.
We must never allow the fight against terror to desensitize us to the sanctity of innocent life. I urge the Federal Government and military high command to immediately facilitate unhindered access for investigators, ensure medical care for survivors, and provide compensation to the families of victims.
Signed:
Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, PhD, GCON
14th President of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence
Sunday, 12th April, 2026.
