“We thought it was an air crash,” Sokoto residents recount U.S. airstrike

Residents of Jabo town in Tambuwal Local Government Area ofSokoto State recounted harrowing experiences following a U.S. airstrike lateFriday, with many initially mistaking the fiery descent for an aircraft crash. Abubakar Shehu Jabo, a resident and Information Officer forTambuwal LGA, said the incident occurred around 10:30 pm. “Because of the loudnoise and the speed at which the burning object descended, many of us thoughtit was an air crash,” he explained. “But when we cautiously moved closer, werealised it was not an aircraft but something else entirely.” Sarkin Fawan Jabo, Muhammadu Abubkar, reassured the publicthat the communities of Jabo and Bargini have long lived peacefully and havenever harbored terrorists or bandits. He recalled only a single kidnapping incident in 2000,emphasizing that the area has remained calm since then. “We do not harborterrorists or bandits in our communities. This place has been calm and peacefulfor a very long time, which makes this incident even more disturbing,” he said. A resident of Bargini village described the explosion asdevastating. Families preparing for bed were startled by a thunderous blast,followed by thick smoke and flames that sent villagers fleeing in panic. The unexpected bombardment has raised alarm not only inSokoto State but across Nigeria, as citizens question the source, intent, andbroader implications of such operations in previously secure areas. Theincident underscores the urgent need for coordinated intelligence,surveillance, and security assurances to prevent further panic and ensurepublic safety.

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