Panic erupted in the early hours of Wednesday on Shagari Street in Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State after fire gutted a students’ lodge, reportedly set ablaze by a man suspected to be mentally unstable.
According to eyewitness accounts, the fire started from the room of a male occupant believed to be struggling with mental health challenges linked to prolonged drug abuse. The flames rapidly spread through the building, affecting at least five other rooms occupied by students living off campus.
Though the cause of the fire remains unclear, sources said the suspect set his own room on fire, triggering a blaze that engulfed a significant portion of the lodge before it could be contained.
“Thank God no life was lost,” said Joy Ndukwe, a student who spoke with the press. “Most of the students were not around at the time, as many had traveled. But all their belongings — clothes, gadgets, documents were completely destroyed.”
Residents revealed that by the time the fire was eventually brought under control, the entire building had been razed, leaving behind only charred remains of personal items and household property.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from emergency responders or local authorities, but the incident has left the community shaken, with many calling for better mental health interventions and fire safety awareness, especially in student-populated areas.