Fear spread across Offa, Kwara State, on Thursday night after explosions struck parts of the town, destroying properties and raising security concerns. The incident occurred just hours after the United States announced airstrikes against ISIS targets in northwest Nigeria.
The blasts, which took place around midnight on Christmas Day, reportedly happened at two separate locations within Offa.
Residents told The PUNCH that the first explosion hit several buildings near the Eid praying ground, while the second occurred close to Solid Worth Hotel, about a five-minute walk from the initial site.
Authorities later discovered an undetonated explosive device at the second location, prompting heightened security measures. However, the source and exact nature of the explosions remained unclear as of Friday morning.
Confirming the incident, Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Chairman of Offa Local Government, Abiola Azeez Babatunde, said the council was aware of online reports about the blasts.
In a statement 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.”
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He added that the council chairman, Suleiman Olatunji Omituntun, visited the scene shortly after the explosions 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 statement urged residents to stay calm and vigilant, verifying information through credible sources to prevent panic. “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,” it added.
A security source, who requested anonymity, told The PUNCH that the explosions were caused by a component from an armed missile. “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 missile launched,” he said.
The blasts occurred just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced airstrikes against ISIS targets in Sokoto State on Christmas Day. While there is no official link between the Offa incident and the U.S. strikes, the timing has increased public anxiety, with residents urging security agencies to intensify surveillance and provide clarity.
Police Public Relations Officer of Kwara State Command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the explosions and said investigations are ongoing. “Discrete investigations are ongoing to reveal what happened precisely. Please be patient,” she said.
Offa is roughly 540 to 550 kilometers from Sokoto, and as of Friday morning, no casualties had been reported. Neither the state government nor security agencies have released a detailed statement on the explosions.