Fire on Tuesday gutted the male hostel of the Ahmadu Bello University School of Basic and Remedial Studies in Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina State.
A News Agency of Nigeria Correspondent, who was at scene, reports that the fire started at about 5:15pm, while students were attending classes and the school management was holding a meeting.
The inferno, that lasted for about three hours, destroyed the 315 bed-space male Block ‘A’ Hostel and all students’ mattresses, clothes and other valuables.
NAN report that no life was however lost in the incident.
Fire service vehicles could not respond to extinguish the fire after several calls on the ground of lack of batteries to kick start the vehicles.
Similarly, the university’s fire service vehicle arrived the scene from Zaria at sunset after combined efforts by students, security operatives and community members had succeeded in putting out the fire.
NAN gathered that the cause of the inferno is yet to be ascertained but speculations allege sabotage as it was reported that on Monday someone was pursued while attempting to ignite fire at the same hostel.
The school’s Director, Prof. Ibrahim Zubairu; Funtua District Head, Alhaji Sambo Idris; and other members of the school management participated in controlling the situation together with the students.
When contacted, Zubairu declined to give comment on the issue but told newsmen that management was now battling to secure accommodation for the students and to further control the situation.
NAN recalls that the present inferno is the seventh incident in the school as the female hostel, mosque, administrative block and other classes were earlier burnt during previous incidents.
NAN reports that the immediate past incident occurred on May 26, while the administrative block was gutted on December 27, 2011.
