The Olofa of Offa, Oba
Muftahu Gbadamosi, has appealed to residents of the town to remain calm and
continue with their end-of-year festivities following an explosion that damaged
parts of three buildings in the community.
The incident occurred late
Thursday night along the Offa–Ijagbo Road, where an unidentified object
reportedly fell and exploded, damaging buildings and injuring about five
people, including a couple and their young daughter.
The monarch stressed that Offa was not
targeted in any military operation and urged residents not to panic while
investigations continue.
“There was an explosion that
destroyed about three houses. I want to appeal to the Offa community to remain
calm. That thing was not targeted at Offa. It was just like a stray incident,”
Oba Gbadamosi said.
“Nobody is attacking us, and we are not attacking anybody. People should go
about their Christmas and New Year celebrations in peace.”
Eyewitness Account
A landlady whose house was
affected, identified as Victoria Macharty, recounted that the incident happened
around 10pm after she heard a strange humming sound before the object landed.
“Something landed on the
ground. I can’t really describe it,” she said.
“This morning, security operatives came and picked up the object. There was a
small box, something that looked like rims, and pieces of iron.”
She added that parts of her
fence, the building, and two windows were damaged.
Link to US–Nigeria Military Operation
The incident followed recent
joint airstrikes carried out by the United States and Nigerian forces against
Islamic State (ISIS) enclaves in Sokoto State.
US President Donald Trump
confirmed the strikes, while Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National
Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed that 16 GPS-guided precision munitions
were deployed using MQ-9 Reaper drones during the operation.
According to Idris, debris
from expended munitions fell in Jabo, Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto
State, and also in Offa, Kwara State, near a hotel premises.
He, however, emphasized that
no civilian casualties were recorded, and security agencies swiftly
secured the affected areas.
Investigation Ongoing
The Olofa confirmed that
military and security authorities are still investigating the exact cause of
the explosion, assuring residents that there is no threat to the community.
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