Three Students Hospitalized After Midnight Fire Guts Gombe State University Female Hostel

A devastating fire broke out late Thursday night at Gombe State University, engulfing the extension block of the female students’ hostel and leaving three students injured and hospitalized.

The incident, which occurred around midnight, sent panic through the campus as flames rapidly consumed sections of the residential facility. 

Preliminary investigations point to a cooking gas explosion as the likely cause of the blaze. Witnesses say the fire started from one of the rooms where students were believed to be using a gas cylinder for late-night cooking. Within minutes, the flames spread to adjoining rooms, fueled by the flammable materials inside. 

Bashir Muazu, Assistant Superintendent of Fire and Public Relations Officer of the Gombe Command of the Federal Fire Service, confirmed the incident and described it as “tragic but avoidable.” He revealed that early findings indicate the explosion was caused by unattended cooking using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), a growing concern in student hostels lacking proper safety infrastructure. 

“No fatalities were recorded, but three students sustained varying degrees of burns and smoke inhalation. They were quickly evacuated and are currently receiving treatment at a nearby hospital,” Muazu stated. 

An eyewitness and resident of the hostel told Daily Post that the fire raged for nearly an hour before help arrived. She claimed that the university’s internal fire response team was either unavailable or ill-equipped to respond promptly.  “If the school’s fire unit had been active, the damage might have been significantly reduced,” she said. 

Several personal belongings, including mattresses, books, clothing, and electronics, were lost in the fire. Some students had to flee with only the clothes on their backs, while others reportedly passed the night outdoors for fear of further danger. 

Efforts to reach the university’s Public Relations Officer, Hadu Naphtali, for an official response were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report. 

The incident has once again raised questions about campus safety and emergency preparedness, particularly in student accommodations. Concerned students and parents are calling on the university management and state authorities to urgently review safety protocols and upgrade firefighting facilities to prevent future tragedies.