Debris from US strikes hits Kwara hotel, injures staff – Owner

A Nigerian hotel owner has reported that three of his staff were hospitalised after debris from munitions fell on his hotel following US airstrikes targeting militants in northwest Nigeria.

The surprise US raid on Christmas Day targeted militants linked to the Islamic State group, according to sources in Abuja and Washington, with multiple casualties reported among the insurgents in Sokoto State.

The federal government had acknowledged that debris from the munitions fell in various locations, including “in Offa, Kwara State, near the premises of a hotel,” but stated that there were no civilian casualties.

However, the owner of the Solid Worth Hotel in Offa, approximately 800 kilometres from the strike targets in Sokoto’s Tangaza district, told AFP that three workers were injured after what appeared to be 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,” said Taofeek Bello.

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“It landed inside the hotel building, caused a little bit of damage, injured three staff,” he added.

Bello said one worker suffered what he described as a “traumatic” injury and was rushed to a psychiatric hospital. Another sustained a severe head injury, while a third was injured in the legs and lap; all three remain hospitalised.

Daniel Bwala, a spokesman for President Bola Tinubu, told AFP on Monday that “there were no casualties except the terrorist(s).”

Bello explained that the debris hit an unoccupied room of the 22-room, two-star hotel before landing outside. Photographs he shared with AFP appeared to show a missile head being examined and collected by security forces. Only two rooms were occupied at the time, and no guests were injured.

Kwara State police told AFP that “as of this moment, there are no details yet. Investigations are ongoing.”

Nigeria is battling multiple jihadist groups, including factions linked to the Islamic State movement. Neighbouring countries are also combating IS-linked groups, raising concerns about cross-border spillover into Nigeria.

Information Minister Mohammed Idris stated that the strikes “targeted ISIS elements attempting to penetrate Nigeria from 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.

On Saturday, presidential spokesman Bwala told AFP that the strikes targeted Islamic State militants working with the Lakurawa jihadist group and “bandit” gangs. The identities and affiliations of those killed have not been confirmed.

AFP