On December 26, 2025, a missile fired by the United States struck the village of Jabo in Sokoto state, Nigeria, causing significant alarm among the local population. Residents reported hearing a loud explosion and witnessing flames as the projectile landed near their only medical facility. Suleiman Kagara, a local farmer, expressed disbelief at the event, stating that the community had never experienced anything like it before.

President Donald Trump later characterized the strike as a "Christmas present" for terrorists, claiming it targeted ISIS militants responsible for violence against Christians. However, local residents, including Kagara, noted that Jabo is not known for terrorist activity and that Christians and Muslims in the area coexist peacefully. Lawmaker Bashar Isah Jabo described the village as a peaceful community with no known history of ISIS or related groups.

The Nigerian government, in collaboration with the US, confirmed that the operation aimed to target ISIS hideouts in the region, but acknowledged that debris from the munitions fell in Jabo. While officials stated there were no civilian casualties, the incident has instilled fear within the community.

Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar indicated that the operation was not religiously motivated but intended to protect civilians. Analysts suggest that the complexities of Nigeria's security challenges extend beyond religious factors, involving communal rivalries and resource conflicts. Nnamdi Obasi from the International Crisis Group noted that while US airstrikes may disrupt some armed groups, they are unlikely to resolve the broader issues stemming from governance failures in the country.