How mysterious fire razed Makurdi Police Mobile Force facility, ammunition store destroyed

By Johnson Arua

A mysterious fire early Sunday morning gutted the Police Mobile Force (PMF) Squadron 13 office in the Old Government Reservation Area (GRA) of Makurdi, Benue State, destroying key facilities and raising serious security concerns.

The blaze reportedly started around 3 a.m., engulfing critical sections of the building, including the ammunition store (armoury) and the office of the Squadron Commander.

An eyewitness said the fire began at the rear of the facility, located a stone’s throw from the Makurdi branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), before rapidly spreading throughout the building.

“The fire triggered serious fear in the area because you could hear loud explosions from the armoury. People were scared and didn’t know what was happening,” the witness said.

While the exact cause of the fire remains unclear, speculation points to a possible power surge from the public electricity supply.

The situation became particularly dangerous as the flames engulfed the ammunition dump, making it too risky for anyone to approach.

Personnel of the Benue State Fire Service eventually contained the inferno after hours of firefighting, but large portions of the building and valuable property, including arms and operational materials, were reportedly lost.

Confirming the incident, Police Public Relations Officer DSP Udeme Edet said, “Yes, I am aware of the fire outbreak at the PMF Squadron 13 facility in Makurdi, but I will get back to you.”