₦airaland Forum

A devastating Fire invaded the popular Rice Mill Market in Wurulum, Markurdi rendering most traders shop less, as properties were reduced to ashes.
Traders cry out for help, seeking government’s intervention in the matter.
There have been massive cries from traders as fire gutted down properties worth millions of naira at the renowned Benue Rice Mill in Wurukum, Makurdi, Benue State.

The incident, which started in the early hours of Monday, March 17, caused significant damage to affected shops, as rice and processing equipment were reduced to ashes.

Daily Report Nigeria gathered that eyewitnesses reported the blaze began near the River Benue Bridgerapidly consuming several shops and essential milling equipment.

Although operatives of the State Fire Service arrived at the scene and prevented the fire from spreading to other shops, unfortunately, some had already been affected, with processed and unprocessed rice, milling machines, and other goods completely burnt.

Among the affected traders is Mercy Hanmaikyur, who suffered significant losses from the incident. She estimated her damages at about ₦10 million.

Mercy lamented, “This shop was opened last December, and I have invested about ₦10 million. I had three machines—a de-stoning machine, a rice polishing machine—and many bags of processed and unprocessed rice. Everything was burnt.”

Another victim of the incident, Iorwa Jeremiah, also shared his loss. He told newsmen that the fire spread so quickly that no one could save anything from his shop.

Jeremiah stated, “I got a call in the early hours of today. By the time I arrived, I saw other shop owners with firefighters trying to put out the fire. Unfortunately, the damage had already been done.”

Meanwhile, the chairman of the rice mill market, Mr. Terva Igyar, confirmed the huge extent of the damage, noting that several shops, milling machines, and numerous bags of rice were destroyed. He also stated that he had reported the incident to the appropriate authorities for necessary action.

Speaking on the cause of the fire incident, Mr. Terva emphasized that electricity was unlikely to be responsible, as the shops lacked power connections. At the moment, the exact cause of the inferno is yet unknown, as investigations are currently ongoing.

Affected traders are appealing to the state governor, Governor Hyacinth Alia, and other state authorities for immediate assistance to help rebuild their livelihoods.

This is not the first fire outbreak in the state. Benue State has witnessed similar tragedies in the past. For instance, in February 2025, a fire devastated the Ihiokwu Main Market in Obi Local Government Area, resulting in losses amounting to millions of naira.

The frequency of such incidents underscores the urgent need for enhanced safety measures and infrastructure improvements in Benue’s marketplaces to prevent future occurrences.

https://dailyreport.ng/benue-traders-devastated-as-fire-destroys-over-%e2%82%a620m/

Until the issue of cultism and stupidity are addressed. The suffering and gnashing of teeth shall continue

This is very painfu.In this hard times.May God ease their pain(I hope they are not the ones keeping farm produce they bought at a very cheap rate and later selling it double the amount).

These are the last days

This fire is long overdue. The carelessness of the millers caused this. Years upon years of chaff surround those mills. Huge mountains of them. It never occurred to them that those mountains of chaff were fire incidents in waiting. Sometimes, they set fire to the chaff and leave it to smoulder for days unattended.

I have no sympathy for careless people.

Osiris12:
Benue people never see anything.


Until the issue of cultism and stupidity are addressed. The suffering and gnashing of teeth shall continue

what has this got to do with this devastating news?

Learn to be sympathetic towards other people. Your mama taught you better than this

This is so painful to bear.

I will not wish my enemies these devastated destruction.

To those who goes out to hustle a legits hustle, you will never experience this pain.

Which kind cause dey follow Benue sef

If nobi herdsmen na fire
dey destroy their foodstuffs

Agrobizz:
Brother abeg no vex
Wetin concern cultism with this matter??

u no go understand

Osiris12:
Benue people never see anything.


Until the issue of cultism and stupidity are addressed. The suffering and gnashing of teeth shall continue

That their cultists issue is too much.Instead of those cultists to mobilize and unleash their terror on those Fulani bandits,they are there disturbing innocent citizens.

Osiris12:
Benue people never see anything.


Until the issue of cultism and stupidity are addressed. The suffering and gnashing of teeth shall continue

I think it is more of the issue of improving fire safety

Here in the FCT, the church I attend has fire extinguishers and fire exits. Extinguishers are inspected every now and then by the fire service.

what sort of irresponsible comment is this?

Osiris12:
Benue people never see anything.


Until the issue of cultism and stupidity are addressed. The suffering and gnashing of teeth shall continue

Osiris12:
Benue people never see anything.


Until the issue of cultism and stupidity are addressed. The suffering and gnashing of teeth shall continue

Na benue now? I think say Na edo cultists dey

So painful 😣

Which business person go do wey e nor go encounter loses hmm...

Osiris12:
Benue people never see anything.


Until the issue of cultism and stupidity are addressed. The suffering and gnashing of teeth shall continue

So the "issue of cuItism" started the fire?
I should address ur 0wn stûpîdity rather than projecting it on others.

Kazeem47:
That their cultists issue is too much.Instead of those cultists to mobilize and unleash their terror on those Fulani bandits,they are there disturbing innocent citizens.

this cultism and stupidity issue has caused benue people so much infighting and their rear exposed that small external threat run them over easily

Osiris12:
Benue people never see anything.


Until the issue of cultism and stupidity are addressed. The suffering and gnashing of teeth shall continue

Wicked statement

JagaLove:
Na benue now? I think say Na edo cultists dey

E dey sup for Benue o. But me no know wetin concern this matter with Benue cultists. .maybe do am sumrin

Osiris12:
Benue people never see anything.


Until the issue of cultism and stupidity are addressed. The suffering and gnashing of teeth shall continue

.
Even though we know Benue indegenes like God1000 benuejosh Omenka are useles* you shouldn't tag the over 4million people living there as stupid.

I sympathise with all those that lost their properties to the fire. May God comfort their soul and replace all they lost.

This man from Irigbaji is a terrible president; so many things going amiss under his regime.

Osiris12:
Benue people never see anything.


Until the issue of cultism and stupidity are addressed. The suffering and gnashing of teeth shall continue

Bro i know this cultism issue have nothing to do with de fire incident but enhh we can't ignore how it has caused a lot of issues in benue state.. Just last week a childhood friend of mine was butchered at welfare quarters, omor the news really broke me down, once told him to come and work for me in portharcourt but he said no. May his soul rest in peace.

AM SURE NA ONE COW (ABOKI), SMOKE SMOKE CIGARETTE NO OFF THE LIGHT.

COWs.

Some people don't just know how to address issues, this guy and cultism stuff na 5&6,

My sympathy goes to those who lost their valuables to that fire incident, life is already difficult in that environs then losing source of income is devasting. pele oooooo

Dogalmighty17:
This fire is long overdue. The carelessness of the millers caused this. Years upon years of chaff surround those mills. Huge mountains of them. It never occurred to them that those mountains of chaff were fire incidents in waiting. Sometimes, they set fire to the chaff and leave it to smoulder for days unattended.

I have no sympathy for careless people.

Gbammm

🙏Amen 🙏

Agrobizz:
Oh my goodness
Diz z TERRIBLE
May God recompense dem cos l know d Government will never do

Dogalmighty17:
This fire is long overdue. The carelessness of the millers caused this. Years upon years of chaff surround those mills. Huge mountains of them. It never occurred to them that those mountains of chaff were fire incidents in waiting. Sometimes, they set fire to the chaff and leave it to smoulder for days unattended.

I have no sympathy for careless people.

Those chaff are far from d mill can nver set fire to d mills....more over those chaffs dont burn with naked flames.

Osiris12:
Benue people never see anything.


Until the issue of cultism and stupidity are addressed. The suffering and gnashing of teeth shall continue

Very easy for you to just open your mouth and speak all kinds of jargon looking for likes and impressions bcus your father is Tinubu and your mother is anenifere or whatever

Chisoretta:
A devastating Fire invaded the popular Rice Mill Market in Wurulum, Markurdi rendering most traders shop less, as properties were reduced to ashes.

Traders cry out for help, seeking government’s intervention in the matter.

There have been massive cries from traders as fire gutted down properties worth millions of naira at the renowned Benue Rice Mill in Wurukum, Makurdi, Benue State.

The incident, which started in the early hours of Monday, March 17, caused significant damage to affected shops, as rice and processing equipment were reduced to ashes.

Daily Report Nigeria gathered that eyewitnesses reported the blaze began near the River Benue Bridge rapidly consuming several shops and essential milling equipment.

Although operatives of the State Fire Service arrived at the scene and prevented the fire from spreading to other shops, unfortunately, some had already been affected, with processed and unprocessed rice, milling machines, and other goods completely burnt.

Among the affected traders is Mercy Hanmaikyur, who suffered significant losses from the incident. She estimated her damages at about ₦10 million.

Mercy lamented, “This shop was opened last December, and I have invested about ₦10 million. I had three machines—a de-stoning machine, a rice polishing machine—and many bags of processed and unprocessed rice. Everything was burnt.”

Another victim of the incident, Iorwa Jeremiah, also shared his loss. He told newsmen that the fire spread so quickly that no one could save anything from his shop.

Jeremiah stated, “I got a call in the early hours of today. By the time I arrived, I saw other shop owners with firefighters trying to put out the fire. Unfortunately, the damage had already been done.”

Meanwhile, the chairman of the rice mill market, Mr. Terva Igyar, confirmed the huge extent of the damage, noting that several shops, milling machines, and numerous bags of rice were destroyed. He also stated that he had reported the incident to the appropriate authorities for necessary action.

Speaking on the cause of the fire incident, Mr. Terva emphasized that electricity was unlikely to be responsible, as the shops lacked power connections. At the moment, the exact cause of the inferno is yet unknown, as investigations are currently ongoing.

Affected traders are appealing to the state governor, Governor Hyacinth Alia, and other state authorities for immediate assistance to help rebuild their livelihoods.

This is not the first fire outbreak in the state. Benue State has witnessed similar tragedies in the past. For instance, in February 2025, a fire devastated the Ihiokwu Main Market in Obi Local Government Area, resulting in losses amounting to millions of naira.

The frequency of such incidents underscores the urgent need for enhanced safety measures and infrastructure improvements in Benue’s marketplaces to prevent future occurrences.
https://dailyreport.ng/benue-traders-devastated-as-fire-destroys-over-%e2%82%a620m/

I get really pissed off sometimes when I read the stories of traders lamenting over their lost goods and property from market fires.

Everyone of the traders in markets around Nigeria MUST be compelled to subscribe for mandatory fire insurance policies from here on out. I remember one well-spoken woman in the FCT in Abuja cried out last year (2024) that she lost N3 million worth of goods in a market inferno and she did NOT have a fire insurance policy in place to replace any lost goods. I wondered out loud how a woman would have goods worth N3 million and yet not have a standard fire insurance policy!

I simply had NO sustainable empathy for her when she was crying out in the video to the government to assist her to replace her goods that got burned.