• Thick smoke in terrorists’ enclaves hours after US airstrikes

By Timothy Olanrewaju

Thick smokes have erupted in a forest identified as terrorists enclaves in northwest Sokoto State hours after the United States launched airstrikes on the area.

Heavy smokes billowed from a forested area at Tangaza Local Government, a volatile region and major camp of the Lakurawa terrorists group on Friday afternoon, a senior official of the Tangaza Local Government told Saturday Sun on condition of anonymity.  “As I speak now, the location of the strike in Tangaza is still burning. We can see thick smokes from afar,” the official disclosed.

Trump’s announcement

On Thursday night, President Ronald Trump announced on social media the United States’ launch of coordinated air strikes against the  terrorists group in northwest state known to be harbouring the Lakurawa terror group, believed to be an affiliate of the ISIS.

“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians,” President. Trump posted his social media page.

Saturday Sun findings show that two major  locations with high concentration of the terrorists, were strategically targeted by the US airstrikes.

Aside Tangaza, an area situated near the Nigeria border with Niger, a location at Isa Local Government was also hit by the US counter-terrorism strikes,  forcing many residents to flee their homes in fear.  Isa LGA had several towns, communities and villages including Bafarawa, the hometown of the former governor, Attahiru Bafarawa.

Scramble for bomb shells, broken metal

Jabo, a small town at Tambuwal Local Government was also hit by the airstrikes. Residents said they heard a loud, deafening sound at the outskirts of the community at about 10:45pm on Thursday, causing panic. It was not clear if Jabo was part of the target though military source told Saturday Sun the strike at Jabo may be accidental. Fear gripped residents who were already indoors as at the time of the incident due to the cold weather.  Dr Abubakar Sifawa, a senior lecturer at the Shehu Shagari University of Education Sokoto who hails from the area, said many residents fled their homes yesterday in fear.

“The incident created fear. Many people were panicking yesterday unclear of what was happening. Jabo is just few kilometres to my village,” he told Saturday Sun.

However, scores of residents at Jabo were said to be scrambling for aluminium, broken metal and shell from the bomb that hit Jabo outskirts.  Lakurawa, a known terrorists group, has been carrying out kidnapping attacks, frequently taking ransoms and taxes from locals.

Former Army Spokesman, Brig Gen Sani Usman described the US intervention as a welcome development. He however called for caution and collaboration with the Nigerian authorities and military. “Such should be done in a manner that will not undermine the sovereignty of the country,” he advised.