A Nigerian hotel owner has said that three of his employees were hospitalised after debris from munitions struck his property following US airstrikes aimed at militants in northwest Nigeria.
The air raid, carried out on Christmas Day, targeted fighters linked to the Islamic State group, according to sources in Abuja and Washington. The strikes reportedly caused multiple casualties among insurgents in Sokoto State.
Nigeria’s federal government confirmed that debris from the munitions fell in several locations, including near a hotel in Offa, Kwara State, but maintained that no civilians were harmed.
However, Taofeek Bello, owner of the Solid Worth Hotel in Offa, around 800 kilometres from the strike location in Sokoto’s Tangaza district, said three staff members were injured when what he believes was a missile hit the hotel.
“Suddenly on Christmas Day, around late evening past 10 pm, a bomb missile allegedly shot by the US military — maybe it misrode and hit my hotel,” Bello said.
He said the object landed inside the hotel building, caused damage, and injured three workers. According to Bello, one employee suffered what he described as a traumatic injury and was taken to a psychiatric hospital, another sustained a serious head injury, and a third was hurt in the legs and lap. All three remain hospitalised.
Presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala said on Monday that “there were no casualties except the terrorist(s).”
Bello said the debris struck an unoccupied room in the 22-room, two-star hotel before landing outside the building. Only two rooms were occupied at the time, and no guests were injured. Photographs shared by the owner appeared to show a missile head being examined and removed by security personnel.
Kwara State police said investigations were ongoing and that details were still being gathered.
Nigeria continues to face violence from several jihadist groups, including factions aligned with the Islamic State movement. Authorities in neighbouring countries are also fighting IS-linked groups, fuelling concerns about regional spillover into Nigeria.
Information Minister Mohammed Idris said the airstrikes targeted Islamic State elements attempting to enter Nigeria through the Sahel corridor.
“During the course of the operation, debris from expended munitions fell in Jabo, a town in Sokoto State, as well as Offa. No civilian casualties were recorded in either location,” he said.
Earlier, Bwala said the strikes targeted Islamic State militants working alongside the Lakurawa jihadist group and armed bandit gangs. The identities and affiliations of those killed have not been independently confirmed.
