Police in the town of Jabo in Nigeria’s Sokoto State on Friday (December 26) cordoned off an area of burnt grassland where a small crater was found, drawing local residents who came to inspect the site.

Scorched grass surrounded the shallow depression on the ground. A resident who visited the scene said there were no casualties or damage to nearby property.

“Some people initially thought an aircraft had crashed,” the witness said. “Items are being removed from where the thing fell. Thankfully there was no loss of life and no loss of property.”

The U.S. Africa Command has said it conducted airstrikes in Sokoto State targeting Islamic State militants, in coordination with Nigerian authorities. Officials did not provide details about specific locations.

Police officers maintained a perimeter as onlookers gathered in the rural area, while authorities continued efforts to determine what caused the burnt patch and crater.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

URNT GRASS PATCH AND SMALL CRATER IN SOKOTO STATE / POLICE CORDON AT SCENE / LOCAL RESIDENT SOUNDBITE

SHOWS: SOKOTO, NIGERIA (DECEMBER 26, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF BURNT GRASS PATCH

2. VARIOUS OF SMALL CRATER ON GROUND / PEOPLE WATCHING

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGINEER, NUHU UMAR JAGO, SAYING:

‘’Yesterday around 10:45pm, somebody called me, though I am residing in Sokoto currently, somebody called me to say that something happened in Jabo, very close to our family farm so that is why early this morning I came to see with my eyes what has transpired and what has happened.’’

4. VARIOUS OF POLICEMEN CORDONING OFF THE AREA

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGINEER, NUHU UMAR JAGO, SAYING:

‘’Items are being removed on where you have seen the thing fell, some people thought it was an aircraft that fell down but unfortunately it wasn’t. Glory be to God there was no loss of life and no loss of property, just the remains of the rubbles that happened in the farm.’’

6. MAN AND HIS CAMEL PASSING / PEOPLE STANDING

7. CITY SIGN READING (Hausa): "JABO, HOME OF THE TOWN’S CHIEF’’