A popular supermarket on Sunday afternoon was gutted by fire in the Ikpoba Hill area of Benin City, Edo State capital.

The shopping mall popularly known as Anambra Supermarket reportedly lost millions of naira to the inferno.

The fire incident, which started on the first floor of the two-storey building, was believed to have been caused by faulty solar panels installed on the roof of the structure.

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A viral video circulating on social media and sighted by our correspondent shows a crowd gathered along the busy Benin–Auchi Road attempting to put out the raging inferno as they await the arrival of fire service personnel from the Edo State Fire Service and the Federal Fire Service.

An eyewitness, Mr. Chukwuemeka Adimorah, who identified himself as a friend of the supermarket owner, said he contacted the owner’s wife after learning about the incident. He added the he was informed that the fire service had already been alerted.

“When I was coming from church, I found out that the supermarket was on fire. I called the wife of the owner, but she told me she was aware and had informed the fire service. I want to thank the fire service personnel; they have done a good job today.”

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Another eyewitness, Lucky Bright, said he was also returning from church when he noticed the fire. He commended the fire service for its prompt response, which he said prevented the supermarket from being completely destroyed.

Also speaking, Blessing Aidengbe attributed the fire outbreak to a possible fault in one of the solar panels installed on the roof of the building.

“I suspect that there is a faulty panel among those panels on the roof of the building because whenever there is a fault, it can result in a fire outbreak,” he said.

As at when filing this report, cause of the fir could not be ascertained just as efforts to reach the Managing Director of the Edo State Fire Service for comments were unsuccessful.

The Edo State Police Command has arrested one Uzebor Emmanuella popularly known as Aza Woman for making false and misleading reports.

A statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, the suspect allegedly made a video on the social media raising alarm that some students of Green Park Academy, Aduwawa and Western Boys’ College, Ikpoba Hill, have been kidnapped.

According to the police spokesperson, preliminary investigations showed that the suspect knowingly disseminated false claims in various social media posts alleging that about six persons were kidnapped through various Mini transport Buses.

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She said the suspect alleged that some of the kidnapped students escaped from their abductors, while others paid ransom.

Ikoedem in the statement said these publications generated widespread apprehension, heightened public anxiety, and could undermine public confidence in the security architecture of Edo State.

“The Edo State Police Command reiterates that the deliberate spread of false information, particularly on matters relating to public safety and security, is a serious offence with far-reaching consequences.

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“Such actions are capable of inciting panic, disrupting public order, and diverting security resources from genuine emergencies. The security of a state should never be jeopardized for views, engagement, online relevance, or any other form of social media gratification.

“The suspect will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.”

The Kogi State Government has announced that a joint security operation involving the Nigerian Military, the Nigeria Police Force, the Kogi State Vigilante Service, and local hunters successfully thwarted a suspected terrorist attack in Ikoyi, Ijumu Local Government Area, averting what authorities described as a major security threat.

The incident occurred at about 7:00 p.m. on Saturday when heavily armed bandits reportedly invaded a gathering in the community with the intention of abducting residents and causing widespread panic.

According to the government, security operatives responded swiftly to distress calls, arriving within minutes and engaging the attackers in a fierce gun battle. The rapid intervention disrupted the criminals’ operation and forced them to flee into nearby forests.

The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Sunday, praising the coordinated efforts of the security agencies and local hunters.

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He said the professionalism, courage, and synergy displayed by the security personnel prevented what could have resulted in a serious security crisis in the community.

Fanwo revealed that intelligence reports indicate that several of the attackers sustained gunshot wounds during the exchange of fire before escaping. He added that security agencies have launched a manhunt to track down and apprehend the fleeing suspects.

The Commissioner, however, confirmed that one member of the Tiv community was killed in the crossfire, while another sustained gunshot injuries and is currently receiving medical attention.

The state government urged residents to support ongoing security operations by promptly reporting anyone with suspicious gunshot wounds or anyone seeking treatment for firearm-related injuries.

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Fanwo noted that the incident underscored the effectiveness of Kogi State’s community-based security framework, emphasising that the collaboration between conventional security agencies, local vigilantes, and hunters played a critical role in neutralising the threat.

He also highlighted the growing impact of the Kogi State Vigilante Service since its integration into the mainstream civil service by the administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, stating that the move has strengthened intelligence-gathering and rapid-response capabilities across the state.

The Commissioner further acknowledged the contributions of local hunters, describing them as vital partners in grassroots security operations and an important component of the state’s first line of defence against criminal elements.

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While commending the security personnel involved in the operation for their bravery and sacrifice, the government reaffirmed its commitment to supporting security agencies in maintaining peace and security across Kogi State.

Residents were advised to remain vigilant, cooperate with security agencies, and comply with security directives, particularly regarding unauthorised gatherings and activities in vulnerable locations and during odd hours.

The government assured citizens that Governor Ahmed Ododo’s administration remains committed to safeguarding lives and property and will continue to deploy all necessary resources to ensure that criminal elements have no safe haven in Kogi State.