Peter Obi consoles victims of accidental military airstrike, urges investment in modern defence tools and training

Crime Diary, Politics

ABUJA, Nigeria — 13 April 2026  (NPA) — Mr Peter Obi, a presidential aspirant and chieftain of Nigeria’s major opposition party, African Democratic Congress (ADC), has commiserated with the families and victims of the accidental Nigerian military airstrike that claimed the lives of dozens of citizens. He attributed the tragedy to a mix of operational constraints, coordination challenges, and outdated equipment, amongst others.

In a statement titled “Borno–Yobe Border Airstrike: A Wake-Up Call for Nigeria’s Defence Strategy”, Obi said he had read accounts of the incident at Jilli Market, located in the Borno–Yobe border area, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of many innocent Nigerians. He extended condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the governments and people of the affected states, praying for eternal rest for the departed and comfort for those grieving.

Obi noted that while the full details of the incident remain unclear, such tragedies often stem from systemic issues within Nigeria’s defence operations. He stressed the urgent need for investment in modern fighter jets, upgrades to existing platforms, and continuous training and retraining of military personnel.

“In the midst of the challenges facing the country, we must continue to stand in solidarity with our military personnel who risk their lives daily to keep Nigeria safe, while also insisting that they are properly equipped and fully supported to discharge their duties effectively and prevent avoidable tragedies of this nature,” he said.

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Concluding his statement, Obi urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rise to the challenge of national security, calling for decisive leadership, stronger coordination of Nigeria’s security architecture, and sustained investment in modern defence capacity to address worsening insecurity and prevent further loss of innocent lives.