Panic broke out at Gombe State University on Thursday night when a fire engulfed a female hostel annexe, leaving three students hospitalised.
The bungalow-shaped annexe, located within the campus, was destroyed in the blaze, which was suspected to have been triggered by a cooking gas explosion.
Confirming the incident on Friday, the Public Relations Officer of the Federal Fire Service, Gombe Command, Assistant Superintendent of Fire, Bashir Muazu, described the situation as “unfortunate.”
“It was caused by LPG, cooking gas. Based on preliminary investigation, it was caused by unattended cooking by a student,” Muazu explained.
He noted that while no fatalities were recorded, three students were rushed to the hospital. “Some went in for anxiety and the other for inhaling smoke from the inferno,” he added.
Our correspondent gathered that the university had only recently lifted a longstanding ban on the use of gas cylinders in hostels. Students had previously been restricted to kerosene stoves due to safety concerns.
Some students, however, expressed disappointment over the university’s fire preparedness. “The fire could have been put out quickly if the school’s fire service was functioning well,” one student lamented.
Efforts to reach the University’s Public Relations Officer, Hadu Naphtali, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls or messages at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, the State Controller of the Federal Fire Service, DCF S.M. Sulaiman, has advised the university to reinstate the ban on LPG cylinders in hostels.
“This decision is aimed at preventing future accidents and ensuring the safety of students. The Command is committed to working closely with the University Management to enhance fire safety measures and prevent such incidents in the future,” Sulaiman stated.
He urged students, staff, and the public to prioritise fire safety and promptly report hazardous situations to the authorities.