There was pandemonium yesterday as a loud explosion emanating from a heavy metal–like object rocked the city of Sokoto.
The object fell from an unknown location and landed at Mana Village, Sokoto South Local Government Council, at about 10:00p.m. Wednesday night, in the compound of one Bello Mohammed, creating extra ordinary lightning across the metropolis.

Read more (http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=100124)

This was possibly an stage 3 Rocket Body that was due to re-enter the atmosphere at 17:00 UTC ± 40 minutes on that date.
The Ariane 4 rocket was launched on the 10th June 1995, from the Centre Spatial Guyanais ELA-2, for the DBS 3 mission

TLE Data

ARIANE 42P+3 R/B
1 23599U 95029B 08011.18710598 .13491498 -27682-4 10361-2 0 2111
2 23599 006.8285 334.1050 0563165 302.6924 052.1059 15.15362601161737
1 23599U 95029B 08011.12116705 .13130965 -27585-4 67905-3 0 2102
2 23599 006.8361 334.5681 0581176 301.9934 052.1986 15.13313346161729
1 23599U 95029B 08010.72437979 .13251465 -27022-4 74399-3 0 2094
2 23599 006.8360 337.5438 0622741 296.3818 057.6897 15.03059205161667
1 23599U 95029B 08 10.72418293 .13057990 00000-0 35702-2 0 2084
2 23599 006.8401 337.7120 0590331 296.7589 056.4565 15.03214891161686
1 23599U 95029B 08 10.59132694 .13110319 00000-0 69794-2 0 2079
2 23599 006.8378 338.7059 0587472 294.5215 058.5359 14.99756072161663

Hum try these links

IMAGE (http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/488/sokotobz9.jpg) (59kb, 630 x 480)

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=100124

Strange Explosion Rocks Sokoto (http://www.thisdayonline.com/news.php)

... all links work

It does look like an iron meteorite or similar to me.

It does look like an iron meteorite or similar to me.

i have not seen an image of the object.
But, indeed, from the reported facts it could be a meteorite.
However, since i just showed that a large piece of spacejunk was going to land there; the probability is that it was just a piece of a rocket booster - a round titanium fuel tank that survived the re-entry.

Update to the predicted re-entry time and location...

IMAGE (http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/4618/ariane43rbza8.jpg)

Predicted Time 2008-01-13 09:27:00 GMT ± 1 Minute
Predicted Location 3° S, 263° E
Inclination 6.8°
Revolution Number 16209

So it may indeed be a meteorite impact. The lesser possibility is that part of the rocket booster broke off and re-entered over Sokoto.

A bit more about the heavy metal object....

"In reaction to the recent explosions of a heavy metal object that rocked Sokoto metropolis, the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) has dispelled speculations making rounds in the state that the meteorite fall could be an act of sabotage by terrorists or as a result of a misguided military action, pointing out that it is a natural act."

Read more (http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=100942)