A section of the female students hostel at the temporary site of the Federal University Birnin Kebbi(FUBK) was raised by fire on Tuesday.
A witness said some of the students who were preparing for lectures when it happened narrowly escaped death. He said “Though no life was lost but many of the female students lost their properties to the fire incident”.
He added that the fire incident was caused by fire set on a section of of the bush around the female hotel. He said it started around 11:55 am but before it could be put out it has destroyed some credentials, books and properties of the students. “Mattresses,, bonks, beds and other items were also burnt”, he said.
One of the affected students told journalists that they were attending morning classes when the incident happened. “We heard shouts of fire, fire but when we to rush to the scene we found our properties already consumed by fire”, she said.
She lamented that before firefighters could put out the fire it has destroyed many of their belongings and academic items.
“The fire would have spread to other areas but for the efforts of the firefighters called in to quench the raging fire”, another witness said.
FUBK public relations officer,Malam Jamilu Magaji while confirming the fire incident said it started around 12pm on Tuesday but was put out before it could destroy the entire hostel.
“We thank God no life was lost. Only a part of the hostel was affected and we were able to evacuate some of the properties belonging to the students”, he said.
He enjoined affected students to remain calm as the school authority is doing everything to cushion the effect of their loss.