Ladan Salihu, a former director-general of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), has raised concerns over the United States air strike carried out on Christmas night in Jabo village, Sokoto state, saying the operation missed its intended target and was not precise.
The United States launched a series of air strikes on December 25 against ISIS terrorists in Sokoto, a north-western Nigerian state.
Confirming the operation, the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said the strike was carried out “at the request of Nigerian authorities”.
“Lethal strikes against ISIS demonstrate the strength of our military and our commitment to eliminating terrorist threats against Americans at home and abroad,” AFRICOM said in a post on X.
In his own post on X, Salihu said he had spoken directly with Bashar Isah Jabo, a member of the Sokoto state house of assembly, who visited Jabo village shortly after the strike.
According to Salihu, the lawmaker reported that the missiles landed in an empty field about 300 metres away from a local hospital, with no casualties or fatalities recorded.
He added that Jabo village had not experienced any terrorist or ISWAP-related activity in 2025, including farmer-herder clashes.
Salihu questioned the purpose of the air strike, asking whether it was directed at known terrorist leaders or carried out merely to make a statement.
He also called on the Defence Headquarters to investigate the incident and provide Nigerians with a comprehensive report on the operation.
“I just spoke with Hon Sarkin Yaki Jabo Member Sokoto State Assembly who visited Jabo after the strike at 10:30pm last night. The US strike in Jabo near Tambuwal wasn’t a precision strike. No casualties. Missiles landed in a plain field 300metres away from a Local Hospital,” he wrote.
“I am in support of all collaborative efforts to fight terrorists. In 2025 Jabo did not record a single case of terror or ISWAP activity. Not even farmer/herder clash. I expect the attack to hit Turji and other known terrorist masterminds in the North East.
“Villagers reported fragments of the missiles near a huge crater. No fatality nor casualty. Was it an attack to grab a Headline or to send an inexplicable message?
“Defence Headquarters must investigate this and furnish Nigerians with Status Report on the operation. Thank God the missiles did not hit the hospital or homes of innocent Jabo Villagers.”
(CABLE)
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