Sokoto Bombing: How Residents Turned Explosive Debris into Valuables

Jabo village in Tambuwal Local Government Area is still struggling to make sense of the violent explosion that shattered its quiet existence.

Hours after the American president Donald Trump tweets that he has launched deadly attacks on Islamic States in Northern Nigeria, the ground remains scarred and fear hangs in the air.

Yet amid the shock, a troubling reality has emerged, residents are scavenging fragments of the explosive device, treating the dangerous debris as valuable scrap.

Community leaders lamented that residents were seen collecting metallic pieces believed to be remnants of the device. Some villagers admitted, in hushed tones, that the fragments were being hidden in homes with plans to sell them later to scrap dealers.

“Unfortunately, I have seen pictures showing that some people had already come into close contact with the debris,” said Nugu Sani Jabo, a resident of the community.

He said that the practice reflects a deeper crisis rooted in poverty, lack of awareness, and the absence of immediate government intervention following the explosion.

“Despite the risks, our young ones still picked through debris without protective gear, unaware that unexploded or contaminated fragments could still pose serious danger”

The District Head of Jabo Alhaji Aliyu Garba Jabo said ignorance plays a major role. “With no clear communication on the hazards associated with explosive remnants, people were treating the explosive remains as if they were gold.

“My major concern is for those who picked up the scraps. Their identities are still unknown to us, and they are not supposed to be in possession of such materials”

We plan to use today’s Friday sermon to sensitise the public on the dangers of keeping these remnants.

We will also appeal to anyone in possession of such items to bring them out and hand them over to the relevant authorities.

“These remnants may still contain chemical substances that could be hazardous to human health”

When The Whistler visited various scrap dealers in the community, they denied purchasing any rubble from the explosion. They also assured that they would alert the relevant authorities whenever they come across any suspicious or unusual scrap materials.

Police sealed the scene of the explosion

On claims of Christian genocide, the traditional ruler said that there is no such claims in the community and was surprised when the target hits his community.

“We don’t have such. Jabo is a place where we have been living in peace and harmony. We have Christians who have lived here for decades, raised families, married their children here, and even retired here. We have never had any religious crisis, neither between Muslims and Christians nor even among Muslims themselves. We have always lived peacefully.”

“I was surprised when I heard claims that a Christian genocide is taking place in northern Nigeria, particularly in Sokoto State. That does not apply to Jabo. Such reports are very unfortunate and appear to be a miscalculation, as our community has always lived in peace and harmony”

He called on the American and Nigeria government to carry out a thorough investigation to determine what truly transpired, so that we can understand the situation fully and prevent future occurrences.

The incident has stirred fresh concerns about diplomatic communication and intelligence coordination in the global fight against terrorism in Nigeria and beyond.

President Trump’s social media statements claiming American military action against Islamic State elements in northern Nigeria triggered confusion and anxiety among residents, particularly in Jabo, where no prior warning or official clarification was communicated to local authorities or communities.

Aliyu M. Aliyu, a security analyst, said such public declarations, when not followed by transparent engagement with Nigerian security agencies, risk undermining trust and complicating bilateral counter-terrorism efforts.

He said that Nigeria and the United States have long maintained security cooperation focused on intelligence sharing, training, and counter-extremism operations, adding that the Jabo incident has renewed calls for clearer protocols, timely information sharing and respect for national sovereignty to prevent civilian panic and unintended harm.