Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi has called for a full investigation into a recent airstrike, insisting that Nigerians deserve explanations rather than sympathy messages.
Reacting to the incident, Gumi criticised the handling of civilian casualties and questioned the continued reliance on aerial bombardments in counter-terrorism operations. According to a report by Punch Newspapers, the cleric said the focus should shift to accountability and transparency.
“We need answers, not condolences,” Gumi stated, urging authorities to explain what led to the reported deaths and injuries. He added that repeated incidents involving airstrikes have raised serious concerns among affected communities.
The cleric argued that dropping bombs alone cannot solve insecurity, noting that Nigeria has enough manpower to tackle threats through ground operations if properly deployed. He warned that failure to investigate such incidents could deepen mistrust between citizens and security agencies.
Gumi also stressed the need for better intelligence and operational precision to avoid harming civilians. He called on the government and the Nigerian Air Force to provide clear details about the strike and ensure that those responsible, if any wrongdoing is found, are held accountable.
The demand comes amid growing public concern over civilian casualties linked to military air operations in parts of northern Nigeria. Reports indicate that similar incidents in the past have triggered investigations and calls for compensation for victims.
Security authorities are yet to issue a detailed public response regarding the latest concerns raised by the cleric as of the time of filing this report.