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, AFP reports.
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.
“It landed inside the hotel building, caused a little bit of damage, and 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.