Panic swept through Offa, Kwara State, on Thursday night after explosions rocked parts of the town, damaging properties and triggering security concerns, barely hours after the United States announced airstrikes on ISIS targets in north-west Nigeria.
The incident, which occurred around midnight on Christmas Day, was said to have happened at two different locations in Offa.
Residents told The PUNCH that the first explosion affected buildings around the Eid praying ground area, while the second occurred close to Solid Worth Hotel, about a five-minute walk from the first location.
An undetonated explosive object was reportedly discovered at the second site, prompting the immediate deployment of security operatives and the cordoning off of the area. However, the exact cause and nature of the explosions had yet to be officially determined as of the time of filing this report.
Confirming the incident, the Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Chairman of Offa Local Government, Abiola Azeez Babatunde, said the council was aware of reports circulating online about the explosions.
In a statement issued on Friday, Babatunde said, “The Offa Local Government has taken note of reports circulating regarding a suspected ordnance-related incident that occurred in the precinct of Offa Yidi Praying Ground on December 25, 2025.
“The affected areas have been cordoned off by security agencies to allow for thorough investigation.”
He disclosed that the council chairman, Suleiman Olatunji Omituntun, visited the affected areas shortly after the incident.
“The Executive Chairman, Hon. Suleiman Olatunji Omituntun, visited the location immediately after the incident to assess the situation firsthand,” the statement read.
The council chairman also urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies as investigations continued.
“He calls on all residents of Offa to remain calm, vigilant, and law-abiding. Citizens are also advised to verify information through credible and official sources to avoid spreading fear and panic,” the statement added.
The local government further assured residents of its commitment to their safety, saying it would continue to work closely with relevant authorities until investigations were concluded.
A security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly, told The PUNCH that what struck the buildings in Offa appeared to be a component from a military missile.
According to him, “You know there was an airstrike by the US in collaboration with the Nigerian government against terrorists in Sokoto.
“The operation involved more than a dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from a US warship from the Gulf of Guinea.
“What was found in Offa is not a Bomb but a component of the bomb of the missile launched.”
The explosions occurred only hours after former United States President, Donald Trump, announced US airstrikes on ISIS targets in parts of north-west Nigeria, particularly in Sokoto State.
Although there has been no official confirmation linking the Offa incident to the US military operation, the timing has heightened anxiety among residents, many of whom have called on security agencies to intensify surveillance and provide clarity on the situation.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Kwara State Command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the incident and said investigations were ongoing.
“Discrete investigations are ongoing to reveal what happened precisely. Please be patient,” she said.
As of Friday morning, no casualties had been reported, and neither the state government nor security agencies had issued a detailed technical explanation on the explosions.
