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Ladan Salihu, former Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, has criticized the United States, US, airstrike carried out on Christmas night in Jabo village, Sokoto State, saying it failed to hit its target and was not accurate.
On December 25, the US carried out several airstrikes aimed at ISIS fighters in Sokoto, located in north-west Nigeria.
The US Africa Command, AFRICOM, later explained on X that the operation was carried out with the collaboration of the Nigerian government.
AFRICOM said the attack showed the strength of the US military and its determination to stop terrorist threats both within the US and in other countries.
However, Salihu shared a different account in a post on X, saying he personally spoke with Bashar Isah Jabo, a member of the Sokoto State House of Assembly, who visited the affected area shortly after the strike.
According to the lawmaker, the missiles fell on an open field about 300 meters away from a local hospital. No one was injured or killed in the incident.
Salihu added that Jabo village had not experienced any terrorist activity or ISWAP presence throughout 2025. He said there were also no records of farmer-herder conflicts in the area.
He explained that villagers only found missile fragments near a large crater, with no damage to homes or loss of life.
Salihu questioned the purpose of the strike and wondered if it was meant to make headlines rather than eliminate real threats.
While supporting cooperation to fight terrorism, he said attacks should focus on known terrorist leaders and strongholds.
He called on Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters to investigate the incident and provide a clear report to the public.
Salihu also expressed relief that the missiles did not hit the hospital or harm innocent residents of Jabo village.
“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 said.
US airstrikes missed target, missiles hit empty field – Ex-FRCN DG Salihu
