Breaking: Lakurawa Terrorists Reportedly Flee Tangaza after US Airstrike in Sokoto
- Local authorities in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State confirmed that suspected Lakurawa fighters reportedly fled the area following US airstrikes
- Tangaza council chairman Isa Saleh Bashir said Niger Republic security forces on patrol reported seeing Lakurawa members escaping after the attack
- While strikes were also reported in Tambuwal LGA, eyewitnesses in Jabo town said the device landed in an open field
Legit.ng's Muslim Muhammad Yusuf is a 2025 Wole Soyinka Award-winning journalist with over 8 years of experience in investigative reporting, human rights, politics, governance and accountability in Nigeria.
Tangaza, Sokoto - Fresh details have emerged on the United States airstrikes carried out in parts of Sokoto State, with local authorities confirming attacks on locations in both Tangaza and Tambuwal local government areas.
Source: Twitter
In Tangaza Local Government Area, the council chairman, Isa Saleh Bashir, confirmed that the strikes targeted bush paths and suspected terrorist camps. Speaking to the BBC, Bashir said villages, including Tandami, were affected during the operation.
“There were definitely attacks in the bush and on terrorist camps. Among the places targeted were a village called Tandami,” Bashir said.
Although he said authorities had yet to confirm the number of casualties, the council chairman noted that injuries were recorded following the strikes.
Lakurawa seen fleeing US attack in Tangaza
Bashir added that reports from Niger Republic security forces on patrol indicated that members of the Lakurawa group were seen fleeing the area shortly after the attack.
“We have not received information on the number of people killed, but there are certainly injured persons. Reports indicate that Niger Republic security forces on patrol said they saw Lakurawa fleeing the area,” Bashir said.
Different incident in Jabo
However, a separate incident in Jabo town, Tambuwal Local Government Area, appeared to have a different outcome. According to local accounts, the device landed in an open field behind the Jabo General Hospital.
A lawmaker representing Tambuwal Local Government Area, who hails from Jabo, said the strike occurred less than 500 metres from the hospital.
“The place where this thing fell is not more than 500 meters from Jabo Hospital. God forbid, even the head of the hospital will say it,” the lawmaker said.
A resident of Jabo, who witnessed the incident, told the BBC that no one was harmed in the explosion.
“I was lying in the courtyard when I heard a noise and saw something coming out of the plane. Then I heard a rumble as if it had fallen to the ground. I told my boss that this thing had fallen,” the resident said.
Source: Original
He added that after stepping outside with others, they discovered that the device had landed in an open onion farm without causing casualties.
“We saw that it had indeed fallen in the open air and that it had not affected anyone. It fell in an onion field,” he said.
However, another resident, Hassan Garba, said the sparks from the explosion injured some people in the area, though details of the injuries were not provided.
Missile from Ghana
After the attack on Thursday evening, the US Department of Defence released a short video showing a missile being fired from a fighter jet.
Security sources have revealed that a drone carrying a missile was launched from a US warplane based at a US military base in Ghana to an area in Sokoto State, where intelligence indicated that IS militants were carrying out attacks.
Additional troops have been deployed to the area.
PRNigeria reported that a military security source confirmed to it that shortly after the US attack, the military had already deployed security personnel to the areas surrounding the attack site.
The local governments where the additional troops were deployed include Gudu, Tangaza and Binji to prevent the possible regrouping of terrorists who were disrupted by Thursday's attack.
However, residents of the area where the incident occurred said they did not see any security forces and had no idea that there were terrorists in the area.
"We live safely in our area. We never knew there was any security problem in our area. We were also surprised."
US releases video of Sokoto airstrike
Legit.ng earlier reported that the United States Department of War has released a video showing the aerial launching of the strike on the terrorist positions in the state, confirming a US-led military strike on identified ISIS-linked targets.
The video was shared on the department’s official X handle and was followed by a statement from former US President Donald Trump, who said the operation was carried out at his direction to neutralise terrorists allegedly responsible for attacks on Christians.
FG confirms US military action in Nigeria
Legit.ng earlier reported that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the air strikes, describing them as “precision hits” conducted within the framework of existing security cooperation with international partners.
The ministry said in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa:
“Nigerian authorities remain engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States of America, in addressing the persistent threat of terrorism and violent extremism."
The ministry stated that the cooperation encompasses intelligence sharing, strategic coordination, and other forms of support, all carried out in accordance with international law and respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty.
Source: Legit.ng
