Several properties were destroyed as fire broke out at one of the female hostels at the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) on Thursday.
It is understood that the fire began around 3:10 pm at the hostel identified as Aisha Buhari lodge.
The conflagration was said to have destroyed students’ documents, clothes, hostel buildings and other properties in the process.
VIDEO: Panic in UNIMAID as fire tears through female hostel.The fire began at about 3:10pm in one of the hostels identified as Aisha Buhari Lodge. The cause of the fire is still unclear. pic.twitter.com/8Wr7Q39vA3
—TheCable Lifestyle (@CableLifestyle) October 21, 2021
As of the time of this report, it remains unclear what caused the fire outbreak.
We learnt that it took the joint efforts of the varsity’s fire service team, security operatives as well as students to put out the fire about an hour later.
In a video clip of the incident obtained by TheCable Lifestyle, some female students were seen standing in groups as they discussed the damage caused by the fire.
An occupant of one of the affected rooms, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, also lamented that she was not able to save any of her properties from getting burnt.
“I was not able to save anything, all my properties were burnt including documents,” she said.
The student alleged that the lack of enough water around the affected hostel initially made it difficult for those who came to rescue the situation.
UNIMAID REACTS
Reacting to the incident, the school authorities said no life was lost in the fire inferno which gutted the female hostel, adding that it was “brought under control”.
“The fire affected just one of the rooms in the hostel while no life was lost or injuries. Preliminary investigation revealed that one of the female students was cooking when the incident happened,” said Danjuma Gambo, a professor, who doubles as the director radio and public relations, UNIMAID.
“The university authority is currently carrying out an investigation to determine the cause of the fire.”
The varsity was recently in the news after management reportedly cracked down on students protesting tuition increase.
