A fire outbreak gutted a female hostel annex of the Gombe State University, leaving three students hospitalised.

The incident which occurred in the bungalow located within the campus on Thursday night, October 2, 2025, caused significant damage to the property and prompted emergency evacuation of students. 

The Public Relations Officer of the Federal Fire Service, Gombe Command, Assistant Superintendent of Fire, Bashir Muazu, who confirmed the incident to Punch said the fire was triggered by a cooking gas explosion. 

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

According to him, while no fatalities were recorded, three students were taken to the hospital.

‎“Some went in for anxiety and the other for inhaling the smoke from the inferno,” Muazu added.

It was gathered that the university had only recently lifted a ban on the use of gas cylinders within hostels.

For years, students were restricted to kerosene stoves due to safety concerns.

‎Some students who spoke to the publication under condition of anonymity expressed disappointment over the handling of the incident, blaming inadequate fire service facilities on campus.

“The fire could have been put out quickly if the school’s fire service was functioning well,” one of the students lamented.

‎Meanwhile, the State Controller of the Federal Fire Service, DCF S.M. Sulaiman, has advised the university management to immediately reinstate the ban on LPG cylinders in hostels to forestall future disasters.

“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,” he stated. 

‎Sulaiman urged all students, staff, and the general public to prioritise fire safety and report any hazardous situations to the relevant authorities.