50 houses razed, 80-year-old burnt to death as inferno ravages Benue community

• The inferno left a trail of massive destruction and depression in its wake with over 50 houses and properties worth millions of naira destroyed

A devastating inferno on Friday swept through Tse Agubor Gyaruwa in Tsambee-Mbesev Council Ward of Gwer-West Local Government Area, Benue State.

The inferno left a trail of massive destruction and depression in its wake with over 50 houses and properties worth millions of naira destroyed.

An 80-year-old woman was also killed in the disaster.

The village head of the community, Chief Ayatse Agubor, confirmed the incident to newsmen on Friday.

He disclosed that the fire broke out around 10 am while residents of community were in the farm.

He stated that efforts to prevent the fire from destroying their farm products proved abortive as the entire village was engulfed in flames.

Agubor warned youths in the area to refrain from unauthorised bush burning, stressing that there would be consequences for those caught engaging in such activities.

Hajia Kongo, a resident who suffered significant losses, lamented the destruction caused by the inferno.

She claimed to have lost over 10 bags of maize, soya beans,and more than 100,000 hidden in her bags of burnt corn.

Reacting to the incident, Mr Henry Agba, the caretaker chairman of Gwer-West LGA, declared that illicit bush burning would no longer be tolerated in the area.

Agba said the council would dispatch a team to assess the extent of the destruction caused by the inferno and report to the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, BSEMA, to facilitate assistance for the affected residents.