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Panic gripped residents of Offa, Kwara State, after explosions rocked parts of the town, destroying property and raising security concerns, just hours after the United States announced airstrikes against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria.
The incident occurred around midnight on Thursday at two separate locations in Offa.
According to PUNCH, the first explosion damaged several buildings near the Eid praying ground area, while the second blast was recorded close to Solid Worth Hotel, about a five-minute walk from the first site.
It was also gathered that an undetonated explosive device was found at the second location, leading to heightened security measures in the area.
Confirming the development, 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, December 26, 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 added that the chairman of Offa Local Government Area, Suleiman Olatunji Omituntun, visited the affected areas shortly after the incident to assess the situation.
The council chairman has urged residents to remain calm and vigilant while security agencies carry out investigations into the explosions.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Kwara State Command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, who also confirmed the incident, said that an investigation is ongoing to ascertain what happened.
“Discrete investigations are ongoing to reveal what happened precisely. Please be patient,” she said.
As of Friday, no casualties had been officially reported, and neither the state government nor security agencies had yet to issue a detailed statement on the explosions.
Although there is no official confirmation linking the incident in Offa to the U.S. airstrikes in Sokoto, the timing has heightened public anxiety, with residents calling on security agencies to intensify surveillance and provide clarity on the situation.
