Students Panicked as Fire Breaks Out Near Abandoned Hostel

Panic broke out at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, on Saturday afternoon after fire gutted a wooden shop located close to an abandoned hostel on campus.

The incident, which occurred around 3:36 p.m., affect the deserted hostel, as no students were living in the building at the time.

Eyewitnesses said the fire started suddenly, and in a rush to force open the shop’s door, some students suffered electric shocks. It was later discovered that naked electrical wires inside the shop might have triggered the sparks that led to the outbreak.

Two students sustained minor injuries while trying to extinguish the fire. They were given immediate treatment and were said to be in stable condition. Their efforts, alongside those of other students, helped to stop the flames from spreading to nearby structures.

The Students’ Union Government President, Comrade Shane Thompson Aigbodion, said the Rector’s office, the Dean of Students Affairs, and the Acting Rector were quickly informed, which ensured that the matter was given urgent attention.

However, many students expressed displeasure over the late response of the fire service, noting that most of the damage had already been controlled before officials arrived.

Aigbodion praised the bravery of students who risked their safety to curtail the fire, describing their intervention as “a show of unity and responsibility in the face of crisis.” Meanwhile, management has promised to investigate the cause of the outbreak and urged students to be vigilant by reporting faulty or suspicious electrical connections within the school.