The late-night blast on Christmas Day caused panic in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State, leaving at least five residents injured, including a man, his wife, and their young child.
The explosion occurred around Yidi, the Muslim prayer ground located along the Offa–Ijagbo Road, and was initially believed by locals to be a bomb detonation.
Among those most seriously injured were a woman popularly known as Iya Ayo and her daughter, Aisha, who were rushed to First Care Hospital in the area for urgent medical attention.
Residents in the neighbourhood disclosed that the family had already retired for the night when the blast occurred. According to them, the woman sustained severe injuries, while another child in the vicinity reportedly lost part of his ear due to the impact.
They said: “They were already asleep when the explosion happened. Iya Ayo’s breast, stomach and arms were pierced by nails.”
Witnesses also confirmed that an artisan sustained injuries, while at least four nearby buildings suffered significant structural damage from the blast.
The incident occurred barely hours after United States President Donald Trump announced U.S. airstrikes against ISIS targets in some areas of Nigeria, raising speculation about a possible connection.
Witnesses described a terrifying scene, saying fragments fell from the sky moments after the blast, fuelling suspicions that the destruction might have been caused by a bomb delivered via drone.
A video shows what appears to be a sizable piece of drone-related debris lying on the ground shortly after the explosion. The footage also captures debris littering the surrounding area.
In the video, visibly shaken residents appealed to the Kwara State Government for immediate intervention, expressing confusion and concern over why Offa widely regarded as a peaceful community would be hit by such an incident.
Amid growing speculation, the Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, CP Adekimi Ojo, dismissed claims linking the incident to any foreign military activity, particularly rumours suggesting involvement by the United States military.
According to the police chief, “There was no bomb scare in Offa, there was no plane crash.
“What happened was just an ordinance, and our IED experts have evacuated the debris. There is no more cause for alarm, everything is now under control as our IED experts have immediately started discreet investigation,” he told newsmen at the site of the incident.
The Executive Chairman of Offa Local Government, Suleiman Olatunji Omituntun, also addressed journalists, confirming that no fatalities were recorded.
He said: “It was at 9:38pm Thursday that I received a distress call about this incident. Thank God, no life was lost.”
He further reassured residents, stating: “This is not a bomb explosion, this is not a plane crash incident, it is just an ordinary happening that rocked this area. Thank God everything is now calm with residents going about their normal activities.
“The police have come with their experts. I suspect it could be that a drone was being tested and it backfired or it malfunctioned,” he suspected.
