Residents of Offa, a major town in Kwara State, were thrown into panic late Thursday night after loud explosions rocked parts of the community, destroying several residential buildings and shops.
The incident occurred shortly after United States President Donald Trump announced that American forces had carried out airstrikes targeting ISIS positions in parts of Nigeria, raising concerns about a possible connection between the explosions and the reported military operation.
However, as of the time of filing this report, it remains unclear whether the explosions in Offa were linked to the US airstrikes or resulted from a separate operation conducted by Nigerian security forces.
Eyewitnesses said debris fell from the sky following the blasts, suggesting the explosion may have been caused by a drone-delivered explosive. A video obtained by SaharaReporters shows what appears to be a large metallic fragment believed to be part of a drone bomb lying on the ground shortly after the incident.
According to residents, at least five houses and several shops were damaged, with debris scattered across the affected areas. Video footage from the scene shows damaged buildings and distressed residents calling on the Kwara State Government to urgently intervene.
Some residents expressed shock that Offa, which is widely regarded as a peaceful town, could experience such an incident.
“Why would they launch a bomb here?” one resident asked.
“We saw the remains of a drone after it destroyed a house,” another added.
A member of the local vigilante group who visited the scene confirmed that the explosions occurred around midnight. He said he immediately alerted the community’s traditional security leadership.
“I got there after 12 a.m. I called the Balogun, and he came immediately. We went to a hotel where one of the explosions occurred, though I won’t mention the name. The hotel was damaged. Another explosion happened near the prayer ground close to Ijagbo in Offa,” he said.
According to him, several houses, storey buildings, and other structures were affected, but no lives were lost.
“We thank God that there were no casualties,” he added.
As of the time of this report, no official statement has been issued by the Nigerian military, security agencies, or the Kwara State Government regarding the cause of the explosions.
Authorities have also not confirmed whether Offa was an unintended target of the reported US airstrikes or whether the incident was linked to another security operation.
