A significant mid-morning fire erupted on Sunday, completely gutting the office complex and armoury of Mobile Police Squadron 13 (Mopol 13) of the Nigeria Police Force in Makurdi, the Benue State capital. The incident, which reportedly commenced around 10:00 AM, caused extensive damage to several offices and critical facilities located at the Mopol headquarters, situated closely to the main Benue State Police Command headquarters in Makurdi.

The blaze rapidly consumed various parts of the police facility, including the Squadron Commander’s office and the crucial armoury section. Witnesses present at the scene recounted the swift escalation of the fire. One anonymous witness, who was on morning duty, stated, "I was on morning duty when I noticed smoke coming out from the Squadron Commander’s office. As I tried to find out what was happening, heavy flames suddenly erupted and everything got burnt."

Efforts were promptly made to alert senior officers, who subsequently contacted the fire service. However, the inferno had already spread rapidly throughout the building before firefighters could arrive and contain it. The immediate cause of the fire has yet to be officially ascertained, and the full extent of the damage, particularly concerning the armoury, remains unclear at the time of this report.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the command, DSP Udeme Edet, confirmed the unfortunate fire outbreak at the Mopol 13 facility in Makurdi. While acknowledging the incident, DSP Edet, also identified as Udeme by NAN, declined to provide specific comments regarding the status of the armoury. She did, however, confirm that no casualties were recorded as a result of the fire. Following the incident, the office complex was cordoned off by police personnel, effectively preventing access to the scene for both media and the public.