Panic gripped residents of Offa, Kwara State, on Thursday night after explosions rocked parts of the town, destroying properties and raising security concerns, hours after the United States announced airstrikes against ISIS terrorists in northwest Nigeria.
Although the incident has not yet been connected to US airstrikes on Sokoto State bandit strongholds, there are rumours that it happened on Christmas Day.
As explosions hit three areas of the town late Thursday night, demolishing properties, the incident produced tangible tension and widespread fear in the population.
Several structures in the vicinity of the community’s Eid prayer ground were reportedly damaged, and a second explosion was heard close to the Solid Worth Hotel, which is roughly a five-minute walk from the first site.
Findings revealed that an undetonated explosive device was later discovered at the second location, prompting security agencies to cordon off the affected areas.
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At the time of this report, authoritative confirmation of the explosions’ origin and nature had not been gotten from the Kwara state government.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Chairman of Offa Local Government, Abiola Azeez Babatunde, who confirmed the incident, said “the council is aware of reports circulating about a suspected ordnance-related incident around the Offa Yidi praying ground.”
The explosions happened just hours after Donald Trump, the president of the United States, declared on Christmas Day that American warplanes would target ISIS targets in Sokoto State and other parts of northwest Nigeria.
However, authorities have not yet found any connection between the U.S. strikes and the Offa tragedy.
No casualties have been recorded as of this morning, and security officials are still conducting investigations.
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