Panic in Offa as explosions rock Kwara town after US strikes

Panic gripped residents of Offa, Kwara State yesterday night after explosions rocked parts of the town, destroying properties and raising security concerns, barely hours after the United States announced airstrikes against ISIS targets in northwest Nigeria.

The explosions, which occurred around midnight on Christmas Day, were reported at two separate locations within Offa.

Residents told news men that the first blast affected several buildings around the Eid praying ground area, while the second explosion occurred near Solid Worth Hotel, about a five-minute walk from the initial site.

Sources said an undetonated explosive device was discovered at the second location, prompting heightened security presence as operatives cordoned off the affected areas. The exact cause and nature of the explosions, however, remained unclear as of the time of filing this report.

Confirming the incident, the Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Chairman of Offa Local Government Area, Abiola Azeez Babatunde, said the council was aware of reports circulating online about the explosion.

In a statement issued today, 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 a thorough investigation.”
He disclosed that the Chairman of the Local Government, Suleiman Olatunji Omituntun, visited the scene shortly after the incident to assess the situation.

“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 urged residents to remain calm and vigilant while security agencies carry out investigations, warning against the spread of unverified information.

The local government assured residents of its commitment to public safety, noting that it would continue to work closely with relevant authorities until investigations are concluded.

Meanwhile, a security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorisation stated that debris recovered from the scene appeared to be a component of a missile.

According to the official, “There was an airstrike by the United States in collaboration with the Nigerian government against terrorist targets in Sokoto.

“The operation involved more than a dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from a U.S. warship in the Gulf of Guinea. What was found in Offa is not a bomb itself, but a component of one of the missiles.”

The Offa explosions occurred barely hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced airstrikes against ISIS targets in parts of northwest Nigeria, particularly in Sokoto State, on Christmas Day.

Although there is no official confirmation linking the Offa incident to the U.S. military operation, the timing has heightened public anxiety, with residents calling on security agencies to intensify surveillance and provide clarity.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Kwara State Command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the incident, saying investigations were ongoing.

“Discrete investigations are ongoing to ascertain precisely what happened. Please be patient,” she said.

As of this morning, no casualties had been officially reported, and neither the Kwara State Government nor security agencies had issued a detailed statement on the explosions.