Residents in parts of Sokoto and Kwara states were thrown into panic between Thursday night and Friday following a series of missile strikes conducted by United States forces targeting terrorist hideouts.
Despite the intensity of the explosions, military sources and local residents have confirmed that no lives were lost in the operations.
The military action began on Thursday night with a massive explosion reported in Jabo town, located in the Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State. Shortly after, another blast was recorded in Tangaza LGA of the same state.
The operations extended to North-Central Nigeria, where two separate explosions rocked Offa in Kwara State just hours after the initial strikes in the Northwest.
US President Donald Trump confirmed the military intervention via his Truth Social platform. In the announcement, the President disclosed that the US military had authorized “deadly strikes” specifically targeting Islamic State (IS) terrorists operating within Northwestern Nigeria.
The President’s statement framed the mission as a direct move against extremist elements in the region.
The sudden nature of the strikes triggered widespread confusion and fear. Residents across the affected communities described moments of intense panic as the sounds of explosions echoed through the night.
By Friday, locals were still recounting the shock of the event. However, an investigation and reports from military insiders confirmed that the strikes did not result in any civilian or military casualties.
Security agencies have yet to release a full assessment of the damage inflicted on the terrorist targets.
