Africa-Press – Nigeria. Residents of Jabo village in Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State are still gripped by fear following a recent airstrike carried out by the United States in collaboration with the Nigerian government, despite continued security patrols in the area.
A resident of the village, Shamsu Isah Yari, who witnessed the incident, said that the community has not fully regained peace of mind since the explosion.
“We normally do not have serious problems here. There was some tension some time ago, but things had calmed down.
‘In fact, internally displaced persons from other villages usually come here for refuge. Then suddenly, on the night before last, we heard a loud explosion,” he said
Another youth in the community, Muhammad Sani Jabo, described the experience as terrifying, noting that many residents were confused about what had happened.
“Honestly, it was very frightening. Some people even thought it was a nuclear bomb because of the level of destruction and confusion. We are appealing to the government to strengthen security in this area,” he said
Findings by DAILY POST indicate that the Lakurawa terrorist group has been intermittently terrorising Jabo and surrounding communities, particularly during the rainy season
A journalist, Muhammaad Auwal T/Murtala, who visited Jabo after the incident, confirmed that security operatives are still maintaining patrols in the area, even though there has been no fresh security breach.
However, residents told him that Lakurawa fighters usually operate around the area during the rainy season.
“They are known to come when crops begin to grow and usually leave after harvest.
“This suggests that Lakurawa elements may still be close to this community, even though they are rarely seen outside the farming season,” he was told.
According to locals, the group often targets villagers during the rainy season, abducting people and demanding ransom for their release.
Meanwhile, a retired Major General and security expert, Ibrahim Sani, said Nigeria must urgently rethink its counter-terrorism strategy.
“You cannot defeat guerrilla warfare with a purely conventional army approach.
“History has shown that those who adopt guerrilla tactics often have the advantage. Look at cases like Charles Taylor and others.
“This kind of war is complex. We must change our strategy by infiltrating these groups to gather intelligence and understand their internal operations,” he said.
Reports indicate that the airstrike in Sokoto was carried out by the United States in collaboration with the Nigerian government, with indications that more such operations may follow.
Beyond Sokoto, further intelligence suggests that US surveillance drones have begun hovering over the Sambisa Forest, believed to be a major stronghold of Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters in Nigeria’s North-East.
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