US Airstrikes in Sokoto Missed Mark, Hit Empty Farmland, Expert Claims

The high-decibel US military intervention in Sokoto State on Christmas night has come under intense scrutiny, with renowned counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama alleging that the operation was a tactical failure. While the strikes were intended to neutralize ISIS-linked terrorists, Makama revealed on Friday that the munitions landed in a relatively peaceful farming community, causing significant panic among civilians but zero casualties among the insurgents they were meant to target.

The operation, which was reportedly directed by the White House to halt the persecution of religious groups in the region, saw several airstrikes hit the Jabo community in the Tambuwal Local Government Area. A viral video from the scene captured the terrifying moments after the impact, showing the night sky lit by flames and local residents fleeing in confusion. Despite the dramatic visuals, Makama contends that the location chosen for the strike has no documented history of ISIS or ISWAP activity.

According to the expert, Jabo is a predominantly Muslim farming community that has remained largely insulated from the ideological terror of the Lake Chad region. He argued that the American intelligence used for the mission was likely flawed, as the targeted area does not host the specific extremist cells the US claims to be hunting. While banditry is a known menace in the North West, Makama pointed out that these criminals predominantly terrorize Muslim populations, contradicting the “Christian genocide” narrative that allegedly triggered the US intervention.

The expert’s critique highlights a significant disconnect between international military objectives and the reality on the ground. Makama noted that while the dreaded JNIM group—popularly known locally as the Lakurawa—has been sighted in parts of the North West, they do not maintain a permanent base in the Jabo axis. He stressed that the primary threat in the region remains localized banditry, which requires a different tactical approach than the heavy-handed aerial bombardment seen on Wednesday.

Despite the lack of impact in this specific instance, Makama conceded that the presence of US military assets could serve a strategic purpose. He described the strikes as a “welcome development” in terms of the psychological message they send to criminal networks. The mere fact that the US is willing to project power into the Nigerian hinterland could act as a deterrent, even if the initial execution was plagued by what he describes as “wrong targeting.”

The incident has sparked a heated debate over the accuracy of foreign intelligence and the potential for collateral damage in rural Nigeria. Residents of Tambuwal are reportedly on edge, fearing that further “misplaced” strikes could lead to the loss of lives or livelihoods in their farming heartlands. Local leaders have called for better coordination between the US military and Nigerian ground intelligence to ensure that future operations hit actual terrorist hideouts rather than peaceful villages.

As of Friday, neither the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) nor the Nigerian Ministry of Defence has released a detailed casualty count or a formal assessment of the strike’s success. The silence from official quarters has allowed skepticism to grow, with critics questioning whether the operation was more about political optics than actual counter-terrorism gains. For Makama and other analysts, the Jabo strike serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of “remote-control” warfare in complex environments.

The focus now shifts to whether the US will recalibrate its strategy or continue with its promised “further measures” in the North West. With the Nigerian government maintaining that it is collaborating with Washington, the pressure is mounting for both nations to provide clarity on the targets and the intended outcomes. For the people of Sokoto, the hope is that if the “wotowoto” continues, it is directed with far more precision than what was witnessed in Jabo.