A fire outbreak has destroyed parts of the Mobile Police 13 (Mopol 13) facility in Makurdi, Benue State, including its armoury.
The Benue State Police Command confirmed the incident on Sunday. The Police Public Relations Officer, Udeme Edet, said she was aware of the fire but noted that full details were still being compiled.
“Yes, I am aware of the fire outbreak at the Mopol 13 facility in Makurdi, but I will get back to you,” Edet told journalists.
The fire reportedly occurred in the early hours of Sunday and razed several office rooms, as well as the armoury section of the unit.
An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the fire started in one of the offices. According to him, smoke was first noticed around 10 a.m. coming from the Squadron Commander’s office.
“I was on morning duty when I saw smoke emanating from the Squadron Commander’s office. While trying to inquire about it, heavy flames suddenly broke out, and everything got burnt,” the eyewitness said.
He added that efforts were made to contact senior officers and the fire service, but by the time firefighters arrived, the building had already been engulfed by flames.
The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage, including whether arms or ammunition were affected, have not yet been officially confirmed. Investigations are expected to commence to determine the source of the incident.
