US Airstrikes in Sokoto Miss Target, Security Expert Says Operation Had No Impact

A well-known security analyst, Zagazola Makama, has stated that the recent air operations carried out by the United States military in Sokoto State did not hit the intended target and had no operational effect on insurgent groups operating in Nigeria.

The comment followed reports that U.S. forces launched airstrikes on Christmas night, allegedly aimed at terrorist elements within Sokoto State. The development triggered fear and confusion among residents, particularly after footage circulated online showing intense reactions from locals.

In one widely shared video, members of the Jabo community, located in Tambuwal Local Government Area, were seen fleeing in panic after an aerial strike reportedly landed close to farmlands within the community. Flames were visible at the impact point, further heightening tension among residents in the area.

As of the time of reporting, official details surrounding the operation remain unclear, and there have been no confirmed casualties linked to the airstrike. Authorities are yet to release a comprehensive briefing explaining the specific intelligence behind the action.

Reacting to the incident via a post on X (formerly Twitter), Makama explained that the strike location does not align with known operational zones of extremist groups threatening Nigeria. According to him, the bombs fell on agricultural land, an area with no recorded insurgent presence.

He clarified that Jabo is primarily a farming settlement under Tambuwal LGA and has never been identified as a base or corridor for ISIS, ISWAP, or Boko Haram activities. Makama emphasized that intelligence records do not link the community to extremist movements operating either in the North West or North East regions of the country.

While acknowledging the importance of international support, the security expert noted that accurate targeting is crucial to avoid unnecessary fear among civilians. He stressed that extremist groups such as ISWAP, Boko Haram, and ISIS are predominantly active in North East Nigeria, not in the affected Sokoto community.

Makama further explained that even JNIM, also referred to as Lakurawa, does not maintain any established base within the North West region. He added that the affected area is overwhelmingly Muslim, accounting for roughly 98 percent of the population, and does not pose any threat linked to religious violence or genocide narratives.

According to him, the security challenges in that region are largely connected to banditry, which has primarily affected Muslim communities, rather than coordinated terrorist insurgency operations.

Despite describing the strike as misdirected, Makama concluded by stating that continued international military pressure on terrorist groups remains a positive development, as it sends a strong signal to armed groups threatening national stability. However, he reiterated that precision and credible intelligence must guide such interventions to prevent civilian distress