Authorities in Sokoto northwest Nigeria, have confirmed that no casualties were recorded following a U.S. airstrike in Jabo, Tambuwal Local Government Area.
The police area commander overseeing Tambuwal LGA, Muhammed Augie, was present at the scene, but declined to comment directly on the bombing.
He, however, urged the traditional ruler of Jabo, Alhaji Abubakar Jabo, to advise residents against visiting the site or handling fragments and debris from the explosion.
Reports indicate that several fragments were collected by locals, many of whom are struggling with poverty and the state’s economic downturn.
The Commandant of Base 15 Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) in Sokoto, which cordoned off the area, Hassan Jatau, stressed the importance of public sensitisation to prevent injuries from unexploded ordnance.
“We were very lucky there is no casualty, and no one was hurt as a result of the bombing episode,” he said.
As of the time of this report, the Sokoto State Government had not issued an official statement regarding the incident. However, Deputy Governor Idris Gobir was reportedly scheduled to visit the area and provide comments.
The airstrike did not cause any damage to nearby residential buildings, although authorities continue to monitor the area to ensure the safety of residents.
The police and military have called for vigilance and compliance with safety guidelines to prevent injuries from bomb fragments or secondary explosions.
If recall United States launched drone attacks on jabo communities, which they claim were carried out by the United States military.
Findings by our correspondent indicate that the attacks occurred in Jabo District of Tambuwal Local Government Area, a community previously not affected by insecurity.
Eyewitnesses said the incident caused widespread panic among residents. One resident recounted that they were seated when they noticed an object resembling a small aircraft approaching the community.
“Shortly after, we heard a loud explosion and saw a huge ball of fire. Everyone was terrified. People rushed out of their houses with their families and started running in different directions,” the resident said.
According to him, some residents later went to the scene and discovered what appeared to be a bomb crater on farmland.
“It created a very large hole, and fire was still burning. We thank God it did not fall on our houses and nobody was injured.
” We recovered some metal fragments and plan to hand them over to the local authorities for investigation.
“We are puzzled by the airstrike on our community because Jabo is not facing any security challenges. The last bandit attack we experienced was about two years ago, when some villages within our district were targeted,” the resident said.
A medical practitioner living in the area, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the explosion occurred just a few metres behind her house, damaging the roof.
“It happened around 10 p.m. My family and I were indoors when we heard a loud blast behind the house. We rushed outside in fear. Later, we realised it was a drone strike. Thankfully, it did not hit our residence and no one was killed or injured, but we barely slept due to fear,” she said.