Debris from a US strike landed near Jabo’s only Primary Health Center in Sokoto State, startling residents though no injuries were reported. US Africa Command said the operation targeted ISIS-affiliated militants and neutralised multiple fighters, while villagers insist Jabo has no history of extremist activity. Nigeria’s government said the strike targeted hideouts in Tangaza and that spent munitions accidentally fell in Jabo and Kwara State. Analysts warn airstrikes alone are unlikely to resolve Nigeria’s wider security and governance challenges.
Shock in Sokoto: Debris From US Strike Lands Near Nigerian Village Clinic, Locals Say No ISIS Presence
A bomb squad secures the scene of a US airstrike in Jabo, Sokoto state, northwest Nigeria, on Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. - Tunde Omolehin/AP
Residents of Jabo, a small farming village in Tambuwal district of Sokoto State, say they were left stunned and fearful after part of a projectile from a US operation struck nearby late on Thursday, landing just metres from the village’s only Primary Health Center.
Suleiman Kagara, who lives in the predominantly Muslim community, told reporters he heard a loud blast and saw flames as an object flew overhead at about 10 p.m. “Soon afterwards it came down, exploding on impact and sending villagers fleeing in fear,” he said. “We couldn’t sleep last night. We’ve never seen anything like this before.”
US officials later described the incident as part of a strike that targeted ISIS-affiliated militants in the region; President Donald Trump called the action a “powerful and deadly strike.” US Africa Command said the operation “neutralized multiple ISIS militants.”
But villagers and local leaders said Jabo has no history of extremist activity. Bashar Isah Jabo, the lawmaker representing Tambuwal in the state assembly, described Jabo as “a peaceful community” with “no known history of ISIS, Lakurawa, or any other terrorist groups operating in the area.” He said the projectile struck a field roughly 500 metres from the Primary Health Center and — while there were no casualties — the blast caused widespread fear and panic.
A Nigerian police bomb squad inspects the site of the airstrike in Jabo. - Tunde Omolehin/AP
Nigeria’s Information Ministry later issued a statement saying the federal government, working with US partners, had “successfully conducted precision strike operations” against ISIS hideouts in the Tangaza forest. The ministry added that debris from expended munitions fell in Jabo and in another location in Kwara State, and emphasised there were no civilian casualties reported.
Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar told reporters he had spoken with US officials, including Senator Marco Rubio, before the operation and that President Bola Tinubu had authorised the mission. Tuggar stressed the action was intended to protect civilians and was not aimed at any religious community.
Context and Analysis
Analysts caution that while targeted airstrikes can degrade armed groups, they are unlikely by themselves to end the complex, multifaceted violence across Nigeria. Nnamdi Obasi, a senior adviser at the International Crisis Group, said strikes may weaken some militant capabilities and represent an escalation of support to Nigeria’s military, but long-term peace will require stronger governance and local conflict resolution.
Security problems in parts of Sokoto and other northern states include banditry, kidnappings and attacks by armed groups. Some of these groups — including those locally known as Lakurawa — are suspected of ties to Islamic State, which has led Nigerian authorities to classify them as terrorist organizations. Still, residents of Jabo insist the village itself has long been peaceful and cooperative across religious lines.
“In Jabo, we see Christians as our brothers. We don’t have religious conflicts, so we weren’t expecting this,” Kagara said.
Officials say there were no reported civilian casualties in Jabo following the strike. Local leaders and residents, however, have called for clearer communication from both Nigerian and US authorities about the operation and for measures to ensure civilian safety in future operations.
