Former President of the Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, has condemned the military airstrike that many civilians in Jilli Futchimiram, Geidam Local Government Area, Yobe State.

Lawan expressed that while he fully appreciate the enormous sacrifices of the 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 the need to pause and ask hard questions.

According to him, "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."

Lawan extended heartfelt condolences to Governor Mai Mala Buni, the Yobe State Government, the people of Geidam LGA and the entire Yobe State.

He offered prayers to the families who have lost loved ones, and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

Lawan declared: "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."