Early on Thursday morning, a massive fire destroyed a rice mill in Ega-Idah, the administrative center of Kogi State’s Idah Local Government Area.
Reports state that an explosion that rocked the neighborhood caused the fire to start at around three in the morning.
For farmers and rice traders in Idah and the nearby Ibaji towns, the rice mill—a cooperative venture founded by two friends, the late Muhammad and Amodu—was an essential resource.
An on-duty security guard described hearing what sounded like a match being struck, then a spark and an explosion that swiftly destroyed the mill.
In an interview with Daily Trust, Musa, an Idah rice merchant, stated that the loss of the mill, valued at over ₦200 million, would have a significant negative impact on the local economy, particularly during the festive season when demand for rice is at its highest. He also noted that efforts to identify any suspects were hampered by the lack of electricity at the time.