The outrage over the deadly airstrike at Jilli Market continues to grow, as civil society voices demand accountability and urgent reforms to prevent further civilian casualties.
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has strongly condemned the incident, describing it as part of a troubling pattern where military operations in conflict zones end up harming civilians. The group, led by its Executive Director Auwal Ibrahim Musa, said the strike reflects deeper systemic issues that have not been properly addressed over time.
In its statement, CISLAC extended condolences to the victims while calling for an urgent, transparent, and independent investigation. The organisation stressed that similar incidents in the past point to recurring failures, especially in how intelligence is gathered and verified before strikes are carried out.
According to the group, one of the biggest problems is the reliance on weak or outdated intelligence. In environments where insurgents blend with civilians, they warned, acting on single-source information or rushing operations under pressure can lead to devastating mistakes like the one reported at Jilli.
CISLAC also pushed for concrete accountability measures. It proposed the creation of a civilian-led investigative panel involving the National Human Rights Commission, civil society groups, and possibly international observers. The goal, they said, is to ensure transparency, public disclosure of findings, and justice for victims.
Beyond investigations, the organisation laid out several recommendations aimed at reducing civilian harm. These include mandatory risk assessments before any strike, clear “no-strike” zones such as markets and hospitals, and real-time abort mechanisms if civilians are detected in targeted areas.
They also urged the Nigerian military to adopt global best practices in counterterrorism operations. This includes multi-layered intelligence verification, persistent surveillance before engagement, and better coordination between military units and local intelligence sources like civilian task forces.
On the technical side, CISLAC called for upgrades in defence systems—such as the use of ISR drones with live video feeds, precision-guided weapons, and improved communication between pilots and ground intelligence teams. These, they argue, would significantly reduce the risk of hitting civilian targets.
The group further emphasised the need for stronger oversight, urging the National Assembly to enforce regular reviews of military operations and ensure that all civilian casualty incidents are properly reported and investigated.
At the heart of CISLAC’s message is a clear stance: civilian protection is not optional. They warned that counterterrorism efforts that repeatedly result in civilian deaths are not only tragic but also counterproductive, as they risk eroding public trust and worsening insecurity.
As pressure mounts, the focus is now shifting toward whether authorities will act on these recommendations—or allow such incidents to continue without meaningful change.