80-year-old woman in Benue burnt to death as fire razes community
In a devastating incident, an 80-year-old woman lost her life in a fire that engulfed 50 houses in Tse-Agubor Gyaruwa of Tsambee-Mbesev Council Ward in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.
Chief Ayatse Agubor, the head of the affected village, disclosed to journalists in Makurdi that the fire erupted around 10 am on Sunday when villagers were away tending to their farms. Tragically, the elderly victim, unable to find assistance due to the absence of people at home, succumbed to the flames.
Agubor pointed to unauthorized bush burning as the cause of the fire and sternly warned the community’s youth to refrain from such activities or face legal consequences.
Hajia Kongo, a villager who suffered substantial losses including over 10 bags of maize, soya beans, clothes, household items, and N110,000 concealed in the burnt corn bags, expressed her grief over the extensive destruction to her house. She appealed for assistance from individuals and the government to aid in her recovery.
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Henry Agba, the Caretaker Chairman of Gwer West LGA, responded to the incident, stating that the council would no longer tolerate unwarranted bush burning in the area.
He announced plans to dispatch a team to assess the extent of the destruction caused by the inferno, facilitating the council’s report to the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
Efforts to obtain comments from the Police Spokeswoman for Benue Command, SP. Catherine Anene, were unsuccessful as calls and messages to her phone regarding the incident went unanswered.
