Residents of Offa, Kwara State, were thrown into a state of panic late Thursday night after two powerful explosions rocked the town around midnight on Christmas Day, December 25, 2025.
The incident, which resulted in property damage, occurred just hours after the United States government announced a series of airstrikes against ISIS targets in northwest Nigeria, specifically in Sokoto State.
Details of the Blasts
The explosions were recorded at two distinct locations within the town:
- Eid Praying Ground Area: The first blast caused significant damage to surrounding buildings.
- Near Solid Worth Hotel: A second explosion occurred about a five-minute walk from the first site.
Security agencies have cordoned off both areas after an undetonated explosive device was discovered at the second location near the hotel. While property damage is extensive, no casualties have been officially reported as of Friday morning.
The Missile Component Theory
While investigations are still in the early stages, a security official speaking anonymously to The Punch suggested a direct link between the Offa incident and the U.S. military operation in Sokoto.
According to the official, the damage may have been caused by components of Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from a U.S. warship in the Gulf of Guinea.
“What was found in Offa is not a bomb but a component of the bomb of the missile launched,” the source claimed, explaining that the missiles were part of a coordinated strike with the Nigerian government against terrorists located approximately 550 kilometres away in Sokoto.
Official Government and Police Reaction
The Offa Local Government Council has called for calm while the investigation proceeds. The Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Chairman, Abiola Azeez Babatunde, confirmed that Chairman Suleiman Olatunji Omituntun visited the affected sites immediately to assess the damage.
“The Executive Chairman 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 stated.
The Kwara State Police Command has also waded into the matter. Public Relations Officer SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi noted that “discrete investigations are ongoing to reveal what happened precisely.”
Context and Public Anxiety
The timing of the explosions has heightened public anxiety across the country, especially following President Donald Trump’s announcement of U.S. intervention to “wipe out” terrorist groups in the region.
Offa is located roughly 540 kilometres south of the primary target area in Sokoto. If confirmed that missile components struck the town, it would raise significant questions regarding the precision and safety protocols of the international military operations currently active within Nigerian borders.
Source: The Punch
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