Prime Business Africa
Prosper Okoye
Nigerian police are yet to disclose the cause or the full extent of damage from a fire that broke out at the Police Mobile Force (PMF) Squadron 13 facility in Makurdi, Benue State, days after the incident.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelLocal reports say the fire occurred in the early hours of Sunday, destroying parts of the facility, including the armoury and the office of the squadron commander.
Sources said the fire started at the rear of the building, close to the Makurdi branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria, before spreading rapidly. Residents reported panic in the area as repeated explosions were heard, believed to have come from ammunition stored inside the facility.
An eyewitness said the cause of the fire was not immediately clear, although there were speculations it may have been triggered by an electrical surge. The fire reportedly began around 3:00am and spread quickly, making it unsafe for people to move close to the area.
Firefighters from the Benue State Fire Service were later deployed and brought the blaze under control after several hours.
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Since the incident, allegations have circulated on social media suggesting the fire may have been deliberately started to conceal wrongdoing. However, police authorities have dismissed the claims.
Speaking to Prime Business Africa, the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Ayo Oluwaseun Martins, said the allegations were unfounded.
He added that investigations into the cause of the fire were ongoing and that the extent of the damage had yet to be fully determined.
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