“The Whole Town Was Shaken”: Loud Blasts Leave Sokoto Residents in Fear

Residents in parts of Sokoto State were left shocked and frightened after loud explosions rocked their communities on Thursday night, with many fearing an attack by armed groups operating in the region.

However, it later emerged that the blasts were caused by United States airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day, targeting suspected militant hideouts in northwest Nigeria.

Several villagers told AFP that the strikes came without warning and caused panic across nearby towns and villages.

“The Whole Town Was Shaken”

Haruna Kallah, a resident of Jabo town, located about 100 kilometres south of Sokoto city near the Niger border, said people were terrified when the explosions occurred.

“We heard a loud blast that shook the whole town. Everyone was scared and thought we were under attack,” he said.

Jabo and its surrounding areas are sometimes affected by criminal gangs and jihadist groups, but residents say the area is not known as a major militant stronghold.

Confusion Over the Attack

Kallah said many locals initially believed the attack was carried out by Lakurawa, a jihadist group active in Sokoto State.

“We thought it was Lakurawa, but later we were surprised to learn it was a US strike. This area has not experienced attacks for over two years,” he added.

After the explosions, some residents gathered courage and went to inspect nearby fields, where they found burning debris believed to be from the bombardment.

Damage Reported, No Casualties

Another resident, Ayuba Abdulkarim, said the blasts caused fear and minor damage to homes.

“There was a huge explosion, and everyone panicked. Some houses nearby had their walls and roofs damaged by fragments, but thankfully no one was injured,” he said.

Villages Linked to Militants Targeted

In the Tangaza district, resident Tukur Shehu said the airstrikes hit Warriya and Alkassim villages, areas believed to host Lakurawa camps.

According to Shehu, militants in those locations have previously launched attacks and held hostages.

The United States confirmed it carried out strikes against militants linked to the Islamic State, but did not specify which groups or exact locations were targeted.

The strikes come amid ongoing diplomatic tension between Nigeria and the US, with Washington accusing Nigeria of failing to protect Christians during armed conflicts. Nigerian authorities and security experts have rejected that claim, saying both Muslims and Christians are victims of the country’s complex security challenges.