The female students’ hostel at the temporary site of the Federal University Birnin Kebbi (FUBK) was affected by the fire.
An eyewitness who spoke to our correspondents confirmed that said some of the students who were preparing for lectures when it happened narrowly escaped death, adding that no life was lost but many of the female students lost their property to the fire incident.
He added that the fire incident was caused by a fire set on a section of the bush around the female hotel, while it started around 11:55 am but before it could be put out it 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 rushed 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.
Confirming the incident to journalists the FUBK public relations officer, Jamilu Magaji, said that 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.