Christmas night on December 25, 2025, brought a series of dramatic and unsettling events across Nigeria, marked by explosions, suspected airstrikes, and official investigations into their causes and impacts. Incidents were reported in both Sokoto and Kwara States, sparking fear, causing property damage, and leading to questions about the nature and source of the disturbances.

In Jabo village, located in the Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, residents reported a loud explosion around 9 p.m. on Christmas night. Eyewitnesses described an unidentified object landing in the community and detonating with a significant bang. While the incident caused widespread fear, with many initially mistaking it for an an attack, no casualties were recorded as the device reportedly did not explode amidst residents. Nasir Jabo, a local resident, confirmed the event, though official police confirmation was pending at the time of reporting.

Coinciding with these local disturbances, United States President Donald Trump confirmed that U.S. forces carried out "powerful and deadly" airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists in northwestern Nigeria, including Sokoto State, on December 25, 2025. President Trump announced these actions on his Truth Social platform, stating they were directed against ISIS terrorists "who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians." He reiterated previous warnings that failure to cease the "slaughtering of Christians" would result in severe consequences, declaring that "tonight, there was hell to pay." The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed multiple ISIS fighters were killed, and U.S. Africa Command also stated that the operation was conducted at the direction of the President and Secretary of War, and in coordination with Nigerian authorities.

Adding to the complex situation, Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, confirmed the Federal Government's approval of the U.S. military airstrike. Speaking on December 26, Tuggar revealed that Nigeria had provided intelligence for the U.S. operation, and he had been in communication with U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, both before and during the strikes. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, in a separate post, expressed gratitude for the Nigerian government's support and cooperation, reinforcing the coordinated nature of the international response to terrorism.

Meanwhile, the community of Offa in Kwara State experienced its own series of unsettling events on the same Christmas night. Explosions rocked parts of the town late Thursday night, December 25, 2025, causing palpable tension, widespread fear, and significant property damage. Reports indicated that the incidents occurred at multiple locations: one around the Offa Yidi Praying Ground and another near the Solid Worth Hotel, approximately a five-minute walk away. Some reports suggested explosions at three different locations. Initial accounts from residents described "objects suspected to be military drones" falling from the sky. An undetonated explosive device was later discovered at one of the locations, leading security agencies to cordon off the affected areas for investigation.

While official statements from Offa Local Government initially noted that "no life was lost," other detailed accounts from residents indicated injuries. About five people, including a couple identified as Iya Ayo and her young daughter Aisha, were wounded and hospitalized. Iya Ayo sustained serious injuries to her breast, stomach, and arms from nails, and another boy's ear was reportedly affected, as was an artisan. Four adjoining buildings suffered serious damage or were pulled down by the force of the blasts.

Authorities in Offa quickly responded to the incidents and addressed circulating rumors. Commissioner of Police Adekimi Ojo corrected widespread speculation, clarifying that there was "no bomb scare" and "no plane crash," but rather an "ordinance" incident. He stated that IED experts had evacuated debris and commenced a discreet investigation. Hon. Suleiman Olatunji Omituntun, the Executive Chairman of Offa Local Government, also visited the scene, urging residents to remain calm and verify information through credible sources. He echoed the police assessment that it was "not a bomb explosion" or "plane crash," but an "ordinary happening," further speculating that it "could be that a drone was being tested and it backfired or it malfunctioned."

Despite the chronological proximity, authorities have not officially established any direct link between the Offa incidents and the U.S. airstrikes in Sokoto State. However, speculations among the public indicated a coincidence with the Christmas Day airstrikes. The police chief in Offa explicitly corrected the rumor that a bomb was brought into the city by the American military, stressing the local nature of the investigation into the ordinance event. Security agencies continue their investigations into the precise source and nature of the explosions in Offa, while the local government remains committed to the safety and security of its people.