Residents of Shagari Street in Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State were thrown into panic after a students' lodge was razed by fire allegedly set by a man suspected to be mentally unstable.

The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, affected multiple rooms in an off-campus accommodation facility housing students.

Fire Started From Occupant's Room

According to sources, the fire originated from the room of a male occupant who reportedly lost his mental stability due to prolonged drug abuse. Under unclear circumstances, the suspect set his own room ablaze, with flames quickly spreading to at least five other rooms in the building.

"Fortunately, no lives were lost in the incident as all the other students occupying the affected rooms were said to have traveled at the time of the fire," revealed Joy Ndukwe, a student familiar with the situation.

The blaze resulted in complete destruction of personal belongings and household items, with nothing salvaged from the affected rooms. By the time the fire was brought under control, local residents confirmed that the entire building had been completely razed.

Emergency Response

As of the time of reporting, emergency responders had not officially commented on the incident. The extent of the damage and the current status of the suspected arsonist remain unclear.

This incident highlights growing concerns about mental health issues and substance abuse among young people in the area, as well as questions about the safety and security of off-campus student accommodations.

BenriNews will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available from authorities.