Hotel Owner Says Debris from US Airstrike Hit Kwara Hotel, Injured Staff

 

A hotel owner in Nigeria has alleged that debris from a United States airstrike injured three of his staff after falling on his hotel in Kwara State.

The US conducted a surprise air operation on Christmas Day targeting militants linked to the Islamic State group in northwest Nigeria, according to sources in Abuja and Washington. The Federal Government later confirmed that debris from the munitions landed in several locations, including an area in Offa, Kwara State, close to a hotel premises, but maintained that no civilians were harmed.

Contrary to the government’s position, the owner of Solid Worth Hotel in Offa, located about 800 kilometres from the strike location in Tangaza district of Sokoto State, told AFP that his hotel was hit and three employees were injured.

According to the owner, Taofeek Bello, the incident occurred late on Christmas night, shortly after 10 p.m., when what he believed to be a missile fired by the US military veered off course and struck the hotel building.

He said the object landed inside the hotel, caused structural damage and left three staff members injured. Bello disclosed that one of the workers sustained what he described as a traumatic injury and was taken to a psychiatric hospital, while another suffered a serious head injury. The third employee was injured in the legs and lap. All three remain hospitalised.

However, presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala told AFP on Monday, December 29, that there were no casualties from the airstrikes apart from the targeted militants.

Bello explained that the debris initially struck an unoccupied room in the 22-room, two-star hotel before landing outside the building. He added that only two rooms were occupied at the time of the incident and no guests were hurt.

Photographs provided by the hotel owner reportedly show what appears to be a missile component being inspected and removed by security personnel.

Meanwhile, Kwara State Police said investigations are ongoing, noting that no official details had been established as of the time of reporting.