Explosion Hits Offa Amid US Strikes In North West Nigeria
By Ahmad Tijjani Abdul
KANO – Residents of Offa, a major commercial town in Kwara State, were thrown into panic on Thursday night after a loud explosion ripped through the Yidi Road axis, sending shockwaves through nearby streets and forcing people to flee the area in fear.
Eyewitnesses described a sudden, thunderous blast that shattered the calm of the night, drawing crowds before security operatives swiftly moved in and sealed off the vicinity.
Thick tension hung in the air as armed police units cordoned off access routes, restricting movement while preliminary assessments were carried out.
The incident comes amid heightened security alert across parts of the country following a counter-terror operations by the United States of America targeting ISIS cells in northern Nigeria.
Although Nigerian authorities have not confirmed any direct link between the Offa explosion and wider military actions In Sokoto north west Nigeria.
As of press time, the extent of damage and possible casualties remained unclear, with emergency responders maintaining a tight perimeter around the scene.
Confirming the development, the spokesperson of the Kwara State Police Command, ASP Ejire Toun-Adeyemi, said security agencies had taken control of the situation and investigations were underway.
“Discrete investigations are ongoing to determine exactly what happened. We urge members of the public to remain calm and patient,” she said in a brief message to journalists.