Key Points

• US missile strikes caused explosions in Sokoto and Kwara communities
• Residents reported fear, injuries and property damage but no confirmed deaths
• Analysts questioned intelligence quality and choice of strike locations

Fear spread across parts of northern Nigeria after explosions linked to US military strikes rocked communities in Sokoto and Kwara states late Thursday, leaving residents shaken and authorities scrambling to clarify what happened.

Loud blasts were reported in Jabo town in Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, followed hours later by two explosions in Offa, Kwara State.

Residents described sudden sounds that rattled homes and sent people running into the streets.

Trump confirms US military action

US President Donald Trump confirmed the strikes in a statement posted on his Truth Social account, saying American forces targeted Islamic State fighters operating in northwestern Nigeria.

The US Africa Command later confirmed operations in Sokoto State but provided few details.

Military and security sources in Nigeria told journalists that no casualties were recorded from the strikes.

One senior official said the operation appeared to involve missiles launched from a naval platform and described the outcome as largely symbolic.

Another security source familiar with the operation said several strikes were carried out but missed most intended targets, adding that damage on the ground remained unclear.

Security analyst Kabiru Adamu questioned the locations hit, noting that neither Jabo nor Offa is widely known as a terrorist stronghold.

He said residents and traditional leaders in Tambuwal confirmed no deaths or arrests after the explosions.

International reports cite militant casualties

Reports from international media painted a different picture. The New York Times quoted US Africa Command officials as saying multiple Islamic State fighters were killed when cruise missiles struck camps in Sokoto State.

Local officials in Tangaza Local Government Area said suspected Lakurawa hideouts near the Niger border were targeted.

The Federal Government confirmed coordination with the United States. Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar said President Bola Tinubu approved the operation and described it as part of ongoing security cooperation.

Residents describe a terrifying night

Residents in Jabo described a terrifying night. Community leaders said metallic fragments were later found near farmlands and a hospital, prompting security cordons and police bomb investigations.

In Offa, residents reported damaged buildings and injuries after debris hit homes and shops.

Local authorities said investigations were ongoing, while police declined to link the blasts directly to the Sokoto strikes.

The explosions have reignited debate over foreign military involvement, intelligence failures and the growing fear felt by civilians caught between terrorism and counterterror operations.