Three Students Hospitalised as Cooking Gas Explosion Rocks Varsity Hostel

Panic broke out at Gombe State University on Thursday night after a gas explosion engulfed a female hostel annexe, leaving three students hospitalised.

The incident, which occurred around 9:30 p.m., forced students in the bungalow-style annex to flee for safety, abandoning their belongings as flames spread through the building.

Confirming the development on Friday, the Public Relations Officer of the Federal Fire Service, Gombe Command, Assistant Superintendent of Fire, Bashir Muazu, said the blast was caused by a leaking cooking gas cylinder.

“It was caused by LPG, cooking gas. Based on preliminary investigation, it was due to unattended cooking by a student,” Muazu explained.

He disclosed that while no lives were lost, three students were rushed to the hospital.

“Some were treated for anxiety, while another suffered from smoke inhalation,” he added.

The incident comes barely weeks after the university lifted its long-standing ban on gas cylinders in hostels. For years, students had been restricted to kerosene stoves due to fire safety concerns.

Some students who spoke anonymously expressed disappointment at the slow response, accusing the institution of failing to maintain functional fire service facilities on campus.

“The fire could have been put out quickly if the school’s fire service was active,” one student lamented.

As of press time, the university management had yet to officially react.

Meanwhile, the State Controller of the Federal Fire Service, DCF S.M. Sulaiman, has urged the university to immediately reinstate the ban on gas cylinders to prevent future disasters.

“This decision is aimed at preventing future accidents and ensuring student safety. The Command is committed to working closely with the University Management to enhance fire safety measures,” Sulaiman said in an advisory.

He further urged students, staff, and the general public to prioritise fire safety and promptly report hazardous situations.