A suspected Gombe gas explosion at Gombe State University has left three students hospitalised after a late-night fire tore through a female hostel annexe. The incident, which occurred on Thursday night, has sparked renewed concerns about safety protocols on campus, particularly regarding the use of gas cylinders in student accommodations.
The fire broke out in a bungalow-shaped annexe within the university’s premises, believed to have been caused by a leaking or improperly handled liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder. According to preliminary findings, the explosion was triggered by unattended cooking.
Confirming the incident, Assistant Superintendent of Fire Bashir Muazu, the Public Relations Officer of the Federal Fire Service in Gombe, described the explosion as “unfortunate” and avoidable.
“It was caused by LPG, cooking gas. Based on preliminary investigation, it was caused by unattended cooking by a student,” Muazu stated.
Gombe Gas Explosion: What Happened?
While no fatalities were recorded, the fire left three female students hospitalised. According to Muazu, some were treated for anxiety attacks, while others suffered from smoke inhalation due to the intensity of the inferno.
Emergency responders, including personnel from the Federal Fire Service, were able to contain the fire before it spread to adjacent buildings. However, eyewitnesses said the response time was delayed, and damage to the property was extensive.
Students have raised serious concerns about fire safety infrastructure on campus. Speaking under condition of anonymity, several students criticised the university’s lack of preparedness and outdated fire response mechanisms.
“The Gas Explosion fire could have been put out quickly if the school’s fire service was functioning well,” one student lamented.
According to reports, the fire service unit within the university lacked functioning equipment, and this may have contributed to the scale of damage sustained during the Gombe gas explosion.
The university had only recently lifted a long-standing ban on the use of gas cylinders in hostels. For years, students were limited to using kerosene stoves, due to prior safety concerns.
The lifting of the ban was seen as a convenience measure by many students who viewed gas cooking as more efficient. However, Thursday night’s fire has cast a shadow over that decision, with calls growing louder for the university to reconsider its policy.
In the aftermath of the Gombe gas explosion, the State Controller of the Federal Fire Service, Deputy Controller of Fire S.M. Sulaiman, issued an advisory recommending the immediate reinstatement of the ban on LPG cylinders in all student hostels.
“This decision is aimed at preventing future accidents and ensuring the safety of students. The Command is committed to working closely with the University Management to enhance fire safety measures and prevent such incidents in the future,” the statement read.
Sulaiman also urged students, staff, and the general public to take fire safety seriously and to report any potentially hazardous conditions to the relevant authorities without delay.
As of the time of filing this report, Hadu Naphtali, the Public Relations Officer for Gombe State University, had not responded to multiple attempts for comment. Calls and messages were unanswered, leaving many questions about the university’s official response to the explosion.
There has been no public statement from the institution regarding:
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Compensation for affected students
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Repairs to the damaged hostel annexe
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Steps being taken to improve fire response systems
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Whether disciplinary action will be taken for policy violations
The Gombe gas explosion highlights the urgent need for improved campus safety infrastructure across tertiary institutions in Nigeria. From regular safety drills to equipping hostels with fire extinguishers and alarms, experts say more must be done to protect students from such life-threatening incidents.
Some fire safety recommendations include:
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Mandatory fire safety orientation for all new students
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Regular inspections of gas cylinders and cooking areas
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Designated, supervised cooking zones in hostels
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On-campus emergency response teams with modern firefighting equipment
The Gombe gas explosion at Gombe State University serves as a tragic reminder that fire safety cannot be compromised. While it’s fortunate that no lives were lost, the injuries and trauma suffered by the affected students could have been prevented.
With calls for accountability and stricter regulations growing louder, it remains to be seen whether the university will take decisive steps to prioritise student safety and prevent such incidents in the future.
Source- Punchng
