Fire destroys rice mill in Kogi

A fire outbreak, on Thursday, razed a rice mill in Ega-Idah, the headquarters of Idah Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The incident occurred around 3am following an explosion that was heard in the area.

The rice mill, a joint venture operated by two friends, the late Muhammed and Amodu, had been a vital service point for local farmers and rice merchants in Idah and nearby Ibaji communities.

A security guard on duty claimed to have heard a sound like a matchstick being struck, followed by a spark and then an explosion that engulfed the mill in flames.

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The absence of electricity at the time hindered the identification of any suspects, he said.

“This is the peak season for our business, and this incident is a severe setback,” lamented Musa, a rice merchant from Idah.

He added that the destruction of the mill, valued at over N200 million, would severely impact the local economy during the festive season when demand for rice is high.

Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Kogi State, SP Williams Aya, for comments were unsuccessful as his phone line was unreachable.