Explosions late on Christmas night rocked Offa, the headquarters of Offa Local Government Area in Kwara State, injuring five people and damaging several buildings, authorities have confirmed.
The incident occurred late Thursday night, triggering widespread panic among residents of the ancient town. Five persons reportedly sustained serious injuries and were rushed to First Care Hospital for treatment.
A visit to Offa on Friday showed heightened fear and anxiety, with residents recounting harrowing moments following the explosions. Among those injured were a woman popularly known as Iya Ayo and her daughter, Aisha, who neighbours said were asleep when the explosion occurred.
“They were already asleep when the explosion happened. Iya Ayo’s breast, stomach and arms were pierced by nails,” a resident said.
Eyewitnesses said an artisan was also injured, while at least four adjoining buildings suffered serious structural damage. A petty trader, Madam Joy, described seeing a bright object moments before the impact.
“We saw it coming with lights beaming, then it rammed into that upstairs before going through the other three buildings it pulled down,” she said.
The Nigeria Police Force moved quickly to the scene. The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, dismissed rumours linking the explosions to a bomb attack or foreign military action.
“There was no bomb scare in Offa, there was no plane crash,” the police chief said.
“What happened was an ordnance, and our IED experts have evacuated the debris. There is no cause for alarm. Everything is under control.”
He added that police explosive experts had commenced discreet investigations to determine the source of the ordnance.
The incident occurred just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced American airstrikes against ISIS targets in parts of north-west Nigeria, including Sokoto State, a development that had fuelled speculation on social media.
Sources said the explosions happened at two separate locations around midnight—one near the Eid praying ground area and another close to Solid Worth Hotel, about a five-minute walk apart. An undetonated explosive device was reportedly discovered at the second site, prompting security agencies to cordon off 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 of a suspected ordnance-related incident around the Offa Yidi praying ground.
In a statement, the local government said security agencies had secured the affected areas and commenced investigations. The Executive Chairman of Offa Local Government Area, Suleiman Olatunji Omituntun, also visited the scenes shortly after the incident.
Residents were urged to remain calm, vigilant and law-abiding, and advised to rely only on official information to avoid panic. The council assured the public of its commitment to residents’ safety and pledged continued cooperation with security agencies until investigations are concluded.
Hammed Shittu
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