Residents of Offa, Kwara State, were thrown into panic late Thursday night after a series of loud explosions rocked the town, destroying several homes and businesses.
The incident comes shortly after former U.S. President Donald Trump announced that American forces had conducted airstrikes against ISIS positions in Nigeria.
It remains uncertain whether the explosions in Offa were part of the U.S. airstrikes or the result of an operation carried out solely by Nigerian security forces.
Eyewitnesses reported debris falling from the sky, suggesting the blasts may have been caused by drone-delivered explosives. A video obtained exclusively by SaharaReporters shows a large fragment believed to be from a drone bomb lying on the ground shortly after the explosions.
According to reports, at least five residential buildings and several shops were destroyed, leaving debris scattered across the affected areas. Footage from the scene shows damaged structures and residents calling on the Kwara State Government to intervene quickly.
Some residents expressed shock, questioning why a relatively peaceful town like Offa would be targeted. One resident said, “Why would they launch a bomb here?” while another added, “We saw the drone remnants after it destroyed a house.”
A member of the local vigilante group confirmed the explosions occurred around midnight. He explained, “I arrived after 12 a.m., contacted the Balogun, and we went to a hotel where one of the blasts happened. Another explosion occurred near the prayer ground in Ijagbo, Offa. Several buildings were damaged, but thankfully, no lives were lost.”
Authorities have not yet released an official statement regarding the incident, and it is still unclear whether Offa was an accidental target of the U.S. airstrikes or if the explosions were caused by another source.
