COMMENTARY
US Christmas Night Airstrikes Spark Panic in Sokoto as Security Expert Says Jabo Community Was a Wrong Target.
…affirms US Military Airstrikes In Sokoto Had No Impact
A respected security analyst, Zagazola Makama, has faulted the multiple airstrikes carried out by the United States military in Sokoto State, describing the location hit as a wrong target with no known insurgent presence.
The airstrikes, which reportedly occurred on Christmas night, triggered widespread panic across parts of Sokoto State after explosions were heard in affected areas. The operation, believed to have been aimed at terrorist elements, has continued to generate public debate amid growing security concerns in northern Nigeria.
A viral video circulating on social media showed residents of the Jabo community in Tambuwal Local Government Area fleeing in fear after one of the airstrikes reportedly landed within the community and burst into flames. The footage captured confusion and distress among locals who appeared unprepared for such a military operation in their area.
As of the time of reporting, official details surrounding the operation remain unclear. No casualties have been confirmed, and neither Nigerian authorities nor the United States military have released comprehensive information on the scope, intelligence basis, or outcome of the strikes.
Reacting to the development in a post on X (formerly Twitter), Makama stated that the airstrikes missed their intended purpose, stressing that the bombs fell on a farming area with no known ties to insurgent groups terrorizing Nigeria.
He wrote, “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.
“Jabo is a farming community under Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, and it has no single record of ISIS and ISWAP activity.
“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 the North East Nigeria.
“Even JNIM a.k.a Lakurawa do not have any base in North West. The area of strikes is also predominantly 98 Muslim population and does not possess any threat to Christian Genocide. It is a case of bandits terrorizing muslims.
“The strikes and more to come is a welcome development as it will send a big message”.
Makama’s comments have further intensified discussions on intelligence accuracy, civilian safety, and the expanding role of foreign military support in Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts. While many Nigerians have welcomed international assistance to combat insurgency and banditry, concerns remain over the potential consequences of misdirected operations on innocent communities.
The incident underscores the complexity of Nigeria’s security landscape, particularly in regions where banditry, terrorism, and communal vulnerabilities often overlap, raising critical questions about targeting precision and the protection of civilian lives.