Properties worth several millions of naira has been destroyed in a fire which razed the premises of the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority, a parastatal under the Ministry of Water Resources located along Makurdi- Otukpo Road.

CEOAfrica gathered that the fire started around 9.45am on Tuesday and spread across the premises; the worst hit was the workshop where abandoned and functional equipment are kept.

According to reports gathered, the fire started as a result of electric spark from the power house of the company and later spread to other areas including the workshop.

It was further learnt that the inferno lasted about one and half hours before the fire service could put it out, but not without heavy destruction of the premises.

One of the staff of the company said, “I live around the quarters here and we noticed the flame around 9.45 this morning. We rushed to the scene where the fire started and tried to put it out by pouring sand, but it went out of control. It was after this that one of us had to call the fire service, but before they could arrive the scene, the fire had spread to several parts of the company, destroying property.”

Another staff who also spoke appreciated God for sparing major offices in the area, saying, “We thank God that the administrative building, warehouses and sensitive parts of the workshop were not affected.”