A fire outbreak on the night of October 2, 2025, gutted a female hostel annex at Gombe State University, sending three students to the hospital and causing significant damage to the property.
The incident triggered panic and an emergency evacuation of students from the campus bungalow where the fire occurred.
The Federal Fire Service’s Public Relations Officer in Gombe, Assistant Superintendent Bashir Muazu, confirmed that the fire resulted from a cooking gas (LPG) explosion caused by unattended cooking by a student.
While no deaths were reported, three students were hospitalized due to anxiety and smoke inhalation from the blaze.
The university had only recently lifted a long-standing ban on the use of gas cylinders in hostels, allowing students to use LPG for cooking after relying on kerosene stoves for years due to safety concerns.
Some students expressed frustration over the management of the incident, blaming inadequate fire service infrastructure on campus for delayed and insufficient response.
The State Controller of the Federal Fire Service, DCF S.M. Sulaiman, advised the university to reinstate the LPG ban in hostels to prevent future accidents.
Sulaiman emphasized the importance of fire safety awareness and urged students, staff, and the public to report hazards promptly to local authorities. Fire and emergency agencies, including TRACE and other agencies, worked to contain the fire and restore order after the incident.
This event highlights ongoing concerns about fire safety in university accommodations and the risks posed by cooking gas use without adequate safety measures.
