Residents were thrown into panic on Wednesday night after a fire broke out behind Makurdi International Secondary School, opposite the Gwuve U Tiv residence in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, destroying a building and causing concern in the neighbourhood.
Reports indicate that the blaze began at a carpentry workshop where shop owners had earlier burned refuse in a gutter outside their premises before leaving the area without confirming the fire was completely extinguished.
By about 8:00 p.m., the flames had spread to wooden furniture kept close to the workshop, causing the fire to intensify.
Witnesses said the blaze soon consumed a nearby building being used by a church, prompting people passing through the area to raise an alarm.
They explained that efforts to contact the Federal Fire Service were initially slowed because the road leading to their station was blocked due to ongoing reconstruction work.
However, officials of the Benue State Fire Service later arrived at the scene and managed to contain the fire, stopping it from spreading to other nearby buildings.
No injuries were recorded in the incident, although the full extent of property damage has not yet been determined.
Residents voiced worries about the risks associated with leaving fires unattended and called for improved emergency response measures.
Fire officials in the state have also advised residents and business owners to be careful when burning or disposing of waste and to always make sure fires are completely put out to avoid similar occurrences.