As ‘We thought it was air crash,’ Sokoto residents recount
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A counter-terrorism and security expert, Zagazola Makama, has described the recent airstrikes reportedly carried out by the United States military in Sokoto State as misdirected, saying the operation failed to hit any known terrorist stronghold.
Makama made the assertion amid growing public interest and debate surrounding the reported U.S. military action in North-West Nigeria.
In a post shared on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, the security analyst stated that the airstrikes landed in a location with no history of terrorist activity, yielding no tangible impact on insurgent groups operating in the country.
“Those asking for our opinion on the U.S. strike in Sokoto. Well, the bombs dropped in a relatively safe part of Sokoto State with no impact,” Makama wrote.
According to him, the affected area—Jabo community in Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State—is a farming settlement with no record of activities linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), ISIS, or Boko Haram.
“Jabo is a farming community under Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, and it has no single record of ISIS and ISWAP activity,” he stated.
Makama further explained that while foreign military support in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism is welcome, such interventions must be guided by precise and accurate intelligence to avoid striking non-threat locations.
“We welcome U.S. interventions to assist Nigeria, but certainly Jabo community in Sokoto was a wrong target for ISWAP, Boko Haram or ISIS, who are known to be operating in North-East Nigeria,” he said.
He also noted that even Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), also known as Lakurawa, does not maintain any operational base in the North-West.
Addressing narratives linking the incident to religious violence, Makama stressed that the affected community poses no threat to Christians, noting that the area is predominantly Muslim and has itself been a victim of banditry.
“The area of strikes is also predominantly 98 per cent Muslim population and does not pose any threat of Christian genocide. It is a case of bandits terrorising Muslims,” he wrote.
Despite his criticism of the alleged target, the security expert maintained that sustained military pressure on terrorist groups remains necessary.
“The strikes, and more to come, are a welcome development as they will send a big message,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, residents of Jabo town in Tambuwal Local Government Area recounted harrowing experiences following the airstrike, which occurred late Friday night, with many initially mistaking the incident for an aircraft crash.
Abubakar Shehu Jabo, a resident and Information Officer for Tambuwal LGA, said the incident happened at about 10:30 p.m.
“Because of the loud noise and the speed at which the burning object descended, many of us thought it was an air crash,” he said.
“But when we cautiously moved closer, we realised it was not an aircraft but something else entirely.”
The Sarkin Fawan Jabo, Muhammadu Abubakar, also reassured the public that the communities of Jabo and neighbouring Bargini have historically lived in peace and have never harboured terrorists or bandits.
He recalled only a single kidnapping incident in the year 2000, stressing that the area has remained calm since then.
“We do not harbour terrorists or bandits in our communities. This place has been calm and peaceful for a very long time, which makes this incident even more disturbing,” he said.
A resident of Bargini village described the explosion as devastating, noting that families preparing for bed were jolted awake by a thunderous blast, followed by thick smoke and flames that sent villagers fleeing in panic.
The unexpected bombardment has raised alarm not only in Sokoto State but across Nigeria, as citizens question the source, intent, and broader implications of such operations in previously secure areas.
The incident has further underscored the urgent need for coordinated intelligence, surveillance, and security assurances to prevent civilian panic and ensure public safety during counterterrorism operations.
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