The Olofa of Offa, Oba Muftahu Gbadamosi, has urged residents to remain calm after an explosion damaged three buildings, clarifying that Offa was not targeted in any military operation
Offa Explosion Not Targeted Attack — Olofa Assures Residents
The Olofa of Offa, Oba Muftahu Gbadamosi, has appealed to residents of the Offa community in Kwara State to remain calm and continue with their Christmas and New Year celebrations, following an explosion caused by an unidentified object that damaged parts of three buildings in the town.
The incident occurred on Thursday night along the Offa–Ijagbo Road, leaving about five persons injured, including a couple and their young daughter.
A landlady whose house was affected, Mrs Victoria Macharty, said the incident happened at about 10:00 p.m., when she noticed an unusual sound before the object struck her property.
“I don’t know exactly what happened. Something landed on the ground. I can’t really describe it,” she said.
According to her, items recovered from the scene included a small box, metallic components resembling rims, and pieces of iron.
“We stayed here and did not allow anyone to enter so nobody would pick anything. This morning, the chairman of our local government came with an anti-bomb unit, and they packed the items,” she added.
She listed the damaged property to include the perimeter fence, parts of the building, and two windows.
Speaking in an interview with Channels Television, Oba Gbadamosi stressed that Offa was not a target of any military action, either from within or outside Nigeria.
“There was an explosion yesterday that destroyed about three houses, but there were no casualties. It happened around midnight,” the monarch said.
“That thing was not targeted at Offa. It was just like a stray bullet. I want the people to calm down so they won’t panic. They should go about their Christmas and New Year celebrations in peace.”
He added, “Nobody is a target. They are not attacking us, and we are not attacking anybody.”
The monarch disclosed that security agencies are still investigating the incident.
The incident in Offa followed a joint Nigeria–United States military operation targeting Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist enclaves in Sokoto State.
Confirming the development, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said 16 GPS-guided precision munitions were deployed using MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial platforms during the operation.
He explained that debris from expended munitions fell in Jabo, Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, and in Offa, Kwara State, near a hotel premises.
“No civilian casualties were recorded in either location, and relevant authorities promptly secured the affected areas,” the minister stated.
Earlier, the United States Department of Defense confirmed that multiple ISIS terrorists were killed during the strikes carried out at the request of the Nigerian government.
Former US President Donald Trump also announced the operation, stating that the strikes were executed by the US military in line with counter-terrorism efforts.
Authorities have assured residents that the situation is under control, while investigations continue to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident. Read More
