A counterterrorism and security analyst, Zagazola Makama, has faulted the recent United States military airstrikes in Sokoto State, describing the operation as misdirected and ineffective against terrorist elements.
Makama made the remarks amid heightened public attention following reports of US air operations in parts of North-West Nigeria.
In a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, he said the strikes were carried out in an area with no known history of terrorist activity.
According to him, the bombs reportedly landed in Jabo community, a farming settlement in Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, which he said has never served as a base for extremist groups.
“Those asking for our assessment of the US strike in Sokoto should note that the bombs fell in a relatively safe area of the state and had no impact on terrorist networks,” Makama wrote.
He explained that Jabo has no recorded presence of the Islamic State West Africa Province, Boko Haram, or other ISIS-linked groups, adding that the community is largely agrarian and has instead suffered attacks from bandits in the past.
Makama noted that while foreign military assistance in Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts is welcome, such interventions must be driven by precise and reliable intelligence to avoid hitting non-threat locations.
“We welcome US support in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, but Jabo community was not an appropriate target for ISWAP, Boko Haram, or ISIS, whose operations are largely concentrated in the North-East,” he said.
He also dismissed claims linking the area to JNIM, also known locally as Lakurawa, stating that the group does not maintain operational bases in the North-West.
Addressing narratives suggesting religious motivations behind the strikes, Makama stressed that the affected area poses no threat to Christians, noting that the population is predominantly Muslim and has itself been a victim of insecurity.
“The strike location is about 98 percent Muslim, and there is no evidence of religiously motivated violence emanating from the area. What exists there is banditry targeting local Muslim communities,” he stated.
Despite his criticism of the choice of target, the security analyst maintained that sustained military pressure on terrorist groups remains necessary, adding that coordinated operations, when properly informed, could still play a role in weakening extremist networks.
