Residents of Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State were thrown into panic on Thursday night following multiple explosions that rocked parts of the town, destroying at least three buildings and sparking widespread confusion over their cause.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the explosions, which occurred at about 9:38pm, affected three different locations, forcing residents to flee their homes amid fears of a bomb attack or a possible aircraft crash.
Eyewitnesses gave conflicting accounts of the incident, with some residents alleging that the blasts were linked to alleged United States military airstrikes targeting terrorist hideouts in Sokoto State, while others speculated that an aircraft may have crashed in the area.
However, the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mr Adekimi Ojo, swiftly dismissed the claims, insisting that there was no bomb explosion or plane crash in Offa.
Speaking to journalists on Friday, Ojo said preliminary findings showed that the incident was caused by an explosive ordnance, adding that police explosive experts had already evacuated the debris from the affected areas.
“There was no bomb launched into Offa by the Americans, and there was no plane crash,” the police commissioner said.
“What happened was an ordnance-related incident. Our IED experts have evacuated the debris, and investigations are ongoing. There is no cause for alarm, as the situation is fully under control.”
The management of the Offa Local Government Area also confirmed that the incident was suspected to be ordnance-related, noting that security agencies had cordoned off the affected locations to allow for thorough investigations.
Chairman of the council, Hon. Suleiman Omituntun, told journalists that no life was lost in the incident, describing the situation as unfortunate but now calm.
“I received a distress call at about 9:38pm yesterday. Thank God, no life was lost,” Omituntun said.
“It was not a bomb explosion and it was not a plane crash. It was an ordnance that caused the explosion. Security agencies are on ground, and residents have since returned to their normal activities.”
Omituntun further suggested that the explosion might have resulted from a malfunctioning device, possibly during a test.
“I suspect it could be a drone being tested that malfunctioned or backfired, but investigations will confirm the exact cause,” he added.
Following the incident, Omituntun, the Special Adviser on Political Matters to the Governor, Hon. Femi Whyte, and the Divisional Police Officer in Offa visited the affected areas to assess the level of damage.
The council chairman urged residents to remain calm, vigilant and law-abiding, while cautioning against the spread of unverified information capable of causing panic.
“Residents should always rely on credible and official sources for information to avoid unnecessary fear and misinformation,” he said.
Security agencies have assured residents that investigations are ongoing and that further updates will be communicated as findings emerge.
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