NANS Sounds the Alarm: Urgent Call to End Civilian Casualties in Air Strikes

The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Zone E stakeholders forum, has denounced a recent airstrike by the Nigerian Air Force that allegedly hit a bustling market along the Borno-Yobe border, resulting in numerous civilian fatalities.
In a statement released on Sunday, the student organization referred to the occurrence as “tragic, preventable, and unprofessional,” claiming that the airstrike inadvertently targeted Jilli Market, a packed weekly trading center, instead of designated insurgent locations. The forum asserted that as many as 200 individuals lost their lives, with several others suffering injuries.

The operation was reportedly carried out under Operation Hadin Kai, a military initiative aimed at insurgent factions in the North-East, including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province.

Signed by its secretary, Zakari Hashim,
NANS criticized what it deemed a failure in intelligence acquisition, target recognition, and operational execution, emphasizing that civilians continually endure the repercussions of mistakes in military actions.

It cautioned that repeated occurrences of this nature generate serious apprehensions about the safety of inhabitants in conflict-stricken regions.

While expressing condolences to the families of the victims and those injured in the assault, many of whom are undergoing treatment in hospitals in Geidam and Damaturu, it demonstrated solidarity with residents of the impacted areas, particularly in Gubio local government council and Geidam local government area.

Recognizing the endeavors of the armed forces in tackling insurgency, NANS underscored that the preservation of civilian lives must continue to be a primary focus in all military operations.

The organization urged the federal government, defense headquarters, and the Nigerian Air Force to initiate an independent inquiry into the incident, ensure restitution for victims, and establish more robust measures to avert future incidents.