Fire guts CBN office in Benue

The Benue State branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), located in Makurdi, the state capital, has been gutted by fire.

The fire started around 7am on Thursday while several staff members were yet to resume duties.

It was gathered that no one was allowed into the building as it was surrounded by policemen who were there to maintain law and order.

The Benue state fire service was also on ground to put out the fire.

The cause of the incident could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report, and there hasn’t been an official statement in this regard.

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Eyewitnesses said they noticed the fire at the back of the bank which is located in the Old GRA area, Makurdi, Benue State capital.

It was further gathered that the fire started from the fuel dome of the bank but immediately became fierce and drew the attention of some workers who immediately raised the alarm.

When contacted, the Director of Benue State Fire Service, Donald Ikyaaza, confirmed the report and said that he received a distress call about the fire incident and promptly deployed his men to the scene.

Ikyaaza said, “It was actually a huge fire which started at the company’s fuel dome but my men rushed to the scene and put out the fire before it could spread to other parts of the bank. Everywhere is calm now.”

At the time our correspondent visited the area, around 10:45 am, security men had barricaded the area. They equally drove people away.