United States airstrikes conducted on Christmas night in Nigeria’s Sokoto State have been deemed ineffective by a security expert, who argues the operations targeted the wrong locations.
Zagazola Makama, a security analyst, stated that the bombings, which caused panic among local residents, landed on a farm and failed to strike insurgent strongholds.
The US military launched the attacks amid ongoing concerns about terrorist activities in parts of Nigeria, though official details regarding casualties or the precise impact of the strikes remain undisclosed.
Residents of the Jabo community in Tambuwal Local Government Area were reportedly seen in distress after an airstrike hit the area, with subsequent reports indicating the bombs fell on agricultural land.
Makama elaborated that the Jabo community, predominantly Muslim and a farming area, has no documented history of activity from groups like ISIS or ISWAP, which are primarily active in northeastern Nigeria.
He further noted that even other militant factions, such as JNIM, do not maintain bases in the northwestern region where the strikes occurred.
The expert welcomed international assistance in combating terrorism but stressed the importance of accurate intelligence to ensure interventions are effective and do not harm civilian populations.
Makama suggested that the strikes, while perhaps intended as a strong message, were misdirected and did not address the core security challenges posed by insurgents in the region.
He also pointed out that the affected area primarily faces threats from bandits who target Muslim communities, a situation distinct from the broader insurgency in the northeast.
The analyst concluded that while future interventions are anticipated, a more precise approach is necessary to achieve meaningful results against terrorist organizations operating in Nigeria.
This assessment raises questions about the intelligence gathering and targeting protocols employed in the US military operations in the region.
Ensuring that airstrikes are precisely aimed at legitimate threats is crucial for both civilian safety and the overall effectiveness of counter-terrorism efforts.
