Dr. Ladan Salihu, former FRCN Director-General, has raised sharp concerns over the Christmas night U.S. airstrike in Sokoto, claiming the mission lacked precision and entirely missed its intended target in Jabo village.
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed on X that the Christmas night strike was conducted at the ‘request of Nigerian authorities,’ framing the mission as a collaborative effort to neutralize ISIS targets in Sokoto.
“Lethal strikes against ISIS demonstrate the strength of our military and our commitment to eliminating terrorist threats against Americans at home and abroad,” AFRICOM said.
Backing his claims with direct intel, Dr. Ladan Salihu shared on X that he is in contact with Sokoto Assembly member Bashar Isah Jabo, who was on the ground in Jabo village just moments after the U.S. airstrike.
According to the lawmaker, the missiles struck an open field just 300 meters from a local hospital, fortunately resulting in no injuries or loss of life. Salihu noted that Jabo village has remained free of terrorist activity and farmer-herder conflicts throughout 2025.
Dr. Ladan Salihu, the Barden Yamma of Bauchi, Danmoren Nasarawa and former FRCN DG, said Jabo village has recorded no ISWAP or terrorist activity in 2025—not even a single instance of farmer-herder conflict.
”Was the strike a legitimate blow against terror, or just a bid for ‘headline-grabbing’ optics? Salihu contrasted the vague Sokoto operation with the precision strikes against known masterminds in the North-East, calling the recent mission’s message ‘inexplicable.'”
Salihu urged Defence Headquarters to probe the operation and issue a detailed transparency report to the public.
“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 wrote.
“I am in support of all collaborative efforts to fight terrorists. In 2025 Jabo did not record a single case of terror or ISWAP activity. Not even farmer/herder clash. I expect the attack to hit Turji and other known terrorist masterminds in the North East.
”Villagers reported fragments of the missiles near a huge crater. No fatality nor casualty. Was it an attack to grab a Headline or to send an inexplicable message?
”Defence Headquarters must investigate this and furnish Nigerians with Status Report on the operation. Thank God the missiles did not hit the hospital or homes of innocent Jabo Villagers.”
