By: Abdullateef Asaliy
Two rooms in Block J at Aminu Jubril hall of residence, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, has been reported burnt in a fire incident that occurred on Wednesday.
According to an eyewitness, the fire started from room 13 around 1:30 P.M before extending to room 12.
The News Digest Press learnt that some credentials were taken out but partially burnt and some were totally devastated.
Almost all the credentials and other items such as foodstuff, clothes of the students who reside in room 13 were lost to the fire.
Speaking with the News Digest Press, Sulaiman Abdulqadir, a 300-level Primary Education student said that he was preparing to go for prayer when the incident started.
“I was performing ablution to observe ‘Zuhri’ prayer, then I heard people shouting ‘fire’. I quickly ran towards it to join them to subdue the fire,” Abdulqadir said.
He also noted that the occupants of the room were absent and the room was locked when the fire broke out.
In an interview with Aliyu Abdullahi, a 400-level Chemistry Student, he said he knows an occupant whom he confirmed was in the library at the time of the incident.
“None of the inhabitants of the room was around when this occurred because the room was said to have locked up and this was due to tripping of light.
“I have a friend in that room but he was in the library, all his credentials and belongings got burnt. There was nothing he could do.”
Muhammad Muhammad, a 400-level Microbiology student who is a victim of the incident felt melancholic.
“All my credentials and other belongings got burnt except the handout I am holding,” he said.
Abdulqahhar Zubair, who witnessed the fire incident said the fire outbreak might be from the wrong electrical connections in the room.
“After the door was broken, I climbed up the bunk in other to prevent the fire from escalating into the next room. While punching the ceiling with my bare hand, my hand got torn by the ceiling.”
At the time of gathering this report, the fire has been quenched by the efforts of the students, and the fire service has arrived at the scene.
The Dean of Students Affairs, Professor Aminu Mode, who rushed to the scene commended the students’ efforts in quenching the fire and urged them to keep calm.
Abdullateef Asaliy is a 200 level Education Biology student.