The Olofa of Offa, in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi, has said that the people of Offa and the ancient town were not the intended target of the explosion caused by a suspected military ordnance that damaged property on Christmas Day.
Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the Ijakadi cultural festival in Offa on Saturday, the monarch appealed to residents of the community to remain calm and proceed with their end-of-year celebrations without fear.
It was recalled that a suspected explosive device detonated in Offa on Christmas night, destroying several buildings and injuring about five persons, including a husband, wife, and their young daughter.
The monarch, who maintained that the community is not a target of any military operation within or outside the country, added that security agencies are still investigating the incident and urged residents not to panic.
“What happened was just like a drone that affected like three houses, but there was no casualty. It happened around 12 midnight on December 25. I just want to use this opportunity to tell Offa residents’ sons and daughters that the incident didn’t target Offa as a town.
“It was just like a stray bullet that was shot but went to meet another person. I’ve told the people to calm down and not to panic, and they should go ahead with their celebrations of Christmas and other celebrations. Nobody is planning to attack us, they’re not attacking us, and we’re not attacking anybody.
“The state commissioner of police was here. He visited the sites where the destruction happened, and he said Investigation has commenced on the incident”, he said.
The unfortunate incident, which residents suspected to be a bomb explosion, occurred at Yidi (Muslim prayer ground) along the Offa–Ijagbo road, injuring about five people, including a couple and their little daughter.
The woman, identified as Iya Ayo, and her daughter, Aisha, were said to be seriously injured and hospitalised at a nearby private hospital.
Neighbours said the woman sustained severe injuries, while another boy was reportedly injured in the ear.
“They were already asleep when the explosion happened. Iya Ayo’s breast, stomach and arms were pierced by nails”, a source said.
Eyewitnesses said an artisan was also affected, while some adjoining buildings were badly damaged.
According to a petty trader, Madam Joy: “We saw it coming with lights beaming, then rammed into this (pointing) upstairs before going through the other three buildings it pulled down”.
Speaking at the scene of the incident on Friday, the state Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, dismissed speculation surrounding the incident, saying that no bomb was sent into Offa town by the American military.
“There was no bomb scare in Offa, there was no plane crash. What happened was just an ordnance, 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 a discreet investigation”, he said at the site.
A preliminary statement by the Offa Local Government also described the explosion as suspected to be ordnance-related.
It added that the affected area has been cordoned off by security agencies to allow for further investigations.
