Communities in northern Nigeria were gripped by fear and confusion after a series of missile strikes, ordered by former US President Donald Trump, hit areas in Sokoto and Kwara states. The unprecedented military action, which targeted suspected terrorist hideouts, left residents reeling from the shock of explosions and the uncertainty of foreign intervention on Nigerian soil.

Explosions Rock Sokoto and Kwara

The first signs of trouble emerged in Jabo town, Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, where a massive explosion shattered the night’s calm. Within hours, two more blasts were reported in Offa, Kwara State, sending waves of panic through the communities. Another explosion was later confirmed in Tangaza LGA of Sokoto, compounding the sense of alarm.

Eyewitnesses described the sound of the explosions as deafening and unfamiliar. “We heard a very loud sound,” recounted Alhaji Aliyu Garba Jabo, the district head of Jabo. “At first, we thought it was a plane crash. People were frightened because it was something we had never experienced before.” Residents who rushed to the scene found metallic debris scattered across farmlands and behind a local hospital, prompting security officials to cordon off the area and deploy bomb squads for investigation.

In Offa, the blasts caused significant property damage. The first explosion occurred near the Eid praying ground, damaging several residential buildings. The second, near Solid Worth Hotel, left more homes in ruins. While no deaths were officially recorded, several residents sustained injuries, and many lost their homes and businesses. “It was like a war scene,” said one resident. “People were screaming and running in different directions because nobody knew what was happening.”

Trump Announces Strikes Against ISIS

The cause of the chaos became clear when Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that he had ordered US forces to strike Islamic State (ISIS) targets in northwestern Nigeria. “Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS terrorist scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even centuries!” Trump wrote. He claimed the strikes were a response to ongoing violence against Christian communities in the region.

The US Africa Command (AFRICOM) later confirmed that the strikes were carried out in Sokoto State. According to military sources, the operation involved the launch of more than a dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles from a US Navy ship stationed in the Gulf of Guinea. The missiles targeted suspected ISIS camps and hideouts, including those linked to the Lakurawa group, a bandit organization believed to be affiliated with the Islamic State Sahel Province.

Conflicting Reports on Casualties

Despite the scale of the operation, initial reports from both military sources and local residents indicated that there were no casualties. “The US is here; they said they were going after an ISIS target but they fired blank yesterday after their operation. There was no terrorist killed or arrested,” a senior Nigerian military official said. Another source familiar with the operation noted that while several strikes were launched, most of the intended targets were missed, and the actual damage remained unclear.

However, AFRICOM’s initial assessment suggested that “multiple” ISIS terrorists were killed in the strikes. The discrepancy between local accounts and US military statements has fueled confusion and speculation among residents and security analysts alike.

Residents Recount Night of Terror

For many in Jabo and Offa, the night of the strikes will not be easily forgotten. In Jabo, the explosion left farmlands scorched but miraculously caused no loss of life. “My family farm is among the affected areas,” said a local farmer. “But we give thanks to God that no life was lost.” In Offa, the destruction was more severe. Soliu, a resident whose home collapsed in the blast, described his narrow escape: “I was already sleeping when I just heard a loud noise. When I opened my eyes, the wall of my room had collapsed and my roof was blown open, but I managed to crawl out under the rubble.”

Business owners also suffered heavy losses. Alaba Awodele, a furniture maker, arrived at his workshop to find it destroyed. “I never imagined that such a thing could happen in Offa,” he said. Mary Oyagbile, who owned a fashion design shop in the same building, lost all her equipment. “Only God and the government can help us,” she lamented.

Security officials later clarified that the objects found at the blast sites were components of the missiles launched during the operation, not conventional bombs. The discovery of missile debris in Offa, more than 500 kilometers from Sokoto, raised questions about the trajectory and accuracy of the strikes.

Government Confirms US-Nigeria Cooperation

The Nigerian government confirmed that the strikes were carried out in coordination with US forces. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the operation was part of ongoing security and intelligence cooperation aimed at combating terrorism and violent extremism. Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar stated that the attacks were sanctioned by President Bola Tinubu and did not violate Nigeria’s sovereignty. “Terrorists are being targeted, this has always been Nigeria’s approach and this also put to rest any doubt with regards to the Tinubu’s administration resolve to fight terrorism,” Tuggar said.

He revealed that the decision to approve the strikes followed consultations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Tinubu. The government maintained that the operation was conducted in line with international law and Nigeria’s strategic interests.