The Chairman of Offa Local Government Area, Hon. Suleiman Olatunji Omituntun, has confirmed a suspected explosion involving a military activity near the Offa Yidi Praying Ground in Kwara State.
Residents of Offa were thrown into panic on Thursday night after explosions rocked parts of the town, destroying properties and raising serious security concerns.
This came barely hours after the United States announced airstrikes against ISIS targets in northwest Nigeria.
The incident, which occurred around midnight on Christmas Day, was reported to have taken place at two separate locations within the ancient town.
Residents said the first explosion affected several buildings around the Offa Yidi (Eid) Praying Ground, while a second blast was heard near Solid Worth Hotel, about a five-minute walk from the initial site.
Eyewitnesses told Punch that the explosions caused panic among residents, many of whom fled their homes in fear, unsure of the source or scale of the incident. It was further gathered that an undetonated explosive device was discovered at the second location, prompting heightened security measures by operatives who swiftly cordoned off the affected areas.
The exact nature and source of the explosions remained unclear.
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 a suspected ordnance-related incident.
In a statement issued 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.”
He disclosed that the Executive Chairman of Offa Local Government Area, Hon. Suleiman Olatunji Omituntun, visited the scene shortly after the incident to assess the situation firsthand.
“The Executive Chairman, Hon. Suleiman Olatunji Omituntun, visited the location immediately after the incident to assess the situation firsthand,” the statement read.
According to the council spokesman, the chairman appealed to residents to remain calm and vigilant while security agencies carry out investigations.
“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,” Babatunde added.
The local government also assured residents of its commitment to public safety, stressing that it would continue to work closely with relevant security agencies until investigations are concluded.
In a separate preliminary statement personally signed by the council chairman on December 26, 2025, Omituntun reaffirmed the position of the local government and provided further details on the response to the incident.
“I wish to inform the good people of Offa Local Government that my administration has taken note of reports circulating regarding a suspected ordnance-related incident that occurred within the precinct of the Offa Yidi Praying Ground on December 25, 2025,” he said.
He added, “Following the incident, the affected area has been promptly cordoned off by relevant security agencies to ensure public safety and to allow for thorough investigations.”
Omituntun disclosed that he visited the scene alongside key officials to obtain firsthand briefings from security operatives.
“I personally visited the scene immediately after the incident, alongside the Special Adviser on Political Matters to the Governor, Hon. Femi Agbaje Whyte, and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Offa Division, to assess the situation firsthand and receive briefings from security operatives on ground,” the chairman stated.
While reassuring residents, he said, “Let me reassure the people of Offa that the Local Government remains fully committed to the safety, security, and overall well-being of all residents. We will continue to work closely with relevant security agencies and authorities until investigations are concluded.”
Meanwhile, a security official who spoke to Punch on condition of anonymity, because he was not authorised to speak publicly, claimed that the object that struck buildings in Offa was not a conventional bomb.
According to him, “What struck the buildings in Offa is 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.”
On Thursday night, President Donald Trump announced U.S. 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 anxiety among residents.
A security source urged patience, saying, “Discrete investigations are ongoing to reveal what happened precisely. Please be patient.”
Offa is located approximately 540 to 550 kilometres from Sokoto, the epicentre of the reported airstrikes.
As of Friday morning, no casualties had been officially reported, and neither the Kwara State Government nor national security agencies had issued a statement detailing the cause of the explosions.
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