In a shocking twist to the US military’s latest anti-terror campaign in Nigeria, a hotel in Offa, Kwara State, has become an unexpected casualty zone. The owner of Solid Worth Hotel claims that three of his staff were seriously injured after debris from a US missile,intended for terrorists hundreds of kilometres away,crashed into his property.

The US airstrikes, which officials say were meant to “dismantle jihadist networks” in Sokoto State, have now sparked outrage and confusion after the fallout reportedly reached as far as Kwara. The operation, hailed by American and Nigerian authorities as a blow to Islamic State-linked militants, has instead left innocent hotel workers in hospital beds.

Taofeek Bello, the hotel’s owner, described the terrifying moment: “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.” According to Bello, the missile landed inside the hotel, causing damage and injuring three staff members. One worker suffered a “traumatic” injury and was rushed to a psychiatric hospital, another sustained a serious head wound, and a third was left with injuries to his legs and lap. All three are still hospitalised.

Photos provided by Bello show what appears to be the missile head being collected by security forces. The debris reportedly struck an unoccupied room in the 22-room hotel, narrowly missing guests. Only two rooms were occupied at the time, sparing visitors from harm,but not the staff.

Despite the clear evidence of injuries, the federal government is downplaying the incident. Presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala insisted, “There were no casualties except the terrorist(s).” The government’s narrative seems to ignore the plight of the injured hotel workers, focusing instead on the supposed success of the operation.

Kwara State police have confirmed an investigation is underway but have yet to provide any meaningful details. “As of this moment, there are no details yet. Investigations are ongoing,” a police spokesperson said, offering little comfort to those affected.

Officials continue to justify the US strikes, with Information Minister Mohammed Idris claiming the attacks targeted “ISIS elements attempting to penetrate Nigeria from the Sahel corridor.” He admitted that debris fell in both Sokoto and Offa, but repeated the government line: “No civilian casualties were recorded in either location.”

Meanwhile, the identities of those killed in the original airstrikes remain unconfirmed, and the government is eager to highlight the threat of cross-border militants. But for the staff of Solid Worth Hotel, the real threat came from above,courtesy of a foreign military operation gone awry.

This incident raises serious questions about the risks of collateral damage when advanced weaponry is used in populated areas. While officials scramble to reassure the public, the reality on the ground tells a different story: innocent Nigerians are paying the price for international military actions that have little regard for local safety.

As investigations drag on, the hotel owner and his staff are left to pick up the pieces,literally and figuratively,after a US missile turned their workplace into a disaster zone. The fight against terrorism, it seems, has once again left ordinary citizens caught in the crossfire.