The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Zone E Stakeholders Forum, has added its voice to the growing national outcry following the military airstrike on the Jilli weekly market. In a scathing statement issued on Sunday, the student body described the operation as “tragic, avoidable, and unprofessional,” while alleging a significantly higher casualty count than initially reported.
Escalating Casualty Claims
While initial reports from local officials and security sources placed the death toll at approximately 56, the statement signed by NANS Zone E Secretary, Zakari Hashim, suggests a much more devastating outcome.
- NANS Estimate: The forum claims that as many as 200 people may have been killed in the strike.
- Injury Toll: Dozens more are reportedly fighting for their lives in hospitals across Geidam and Damaturu.
The student body emphasized that the victims were “innocent traders and citizens” caught in an operation that was supposedly tracking Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents under the banner of Operation Hadin Kai.
Critique of Military Intelligence
NANS expressed deep concern over what it described as a systemic failure in intelligence gathering and target identification. The forum argued that hitting a well-known, crowded weekly trading hub like Jilli—located on the border of Gubio (Borno) and Geidam (Yobe)—raises serious questions about the “professionalism” of the execution.
“Civilians continue to bear the brunt of errors in military action,” the statement read. “How can a crowded market be mistaken for a hidden insurgent camp? This reflects a failure that we can no longer ignore.”
Demands for Independent Probe and Compensation
While acknowledging the broader sacrifices of the Nigerian Armed Forces in the fight against terror, NANS insisted that the “sanctity of human life” must not be a secondary consideration. The forum issued a three-point demand to the Federal Government and Defense Headquarters:
- Independent Investigation: A transparent probe outside of the military’s internal “Civilian Harm Cell” to ensure impartial findings.
- Compensation: Immediate financial and medical support for the bereaved families and survivors in Geidam and Damaturu.
- Enhanced Safeguards: The implementation of stricter verification protocols before airstrikes are authorized in proximity to civilian centers.
A Growing Crisis of Confidence
The intervention by NANS comes as the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) faces intense pressure following a decade of “erroneous” bombings that have now claimed over 400 civilian lives since 2017.
The students’ solidarity with the residents of Gubio and Geidam signals a widening rift between the youth population in the North-East and the security forces tasked with their protection. As of Monday afternoon, Defense Headquarters has not directly responded to the specific casualty figures cited by NANS, but the NAF has confirmed that a fact-finding mission is currently on the ground at the Jilli site.
The situation remains tense as communities prepare for further mass burials, with student leaders warning of potential peaceful protests if accountability is not swiftly demonstrated.
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