Students of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, were thrown into panic on Saturday after fire gutted a wooden shop situated beside a hostel on the campus.
An eyewitness who preferred anonymity disclosed that the fire began suddenly and efforts by students to break into the shop were futile.
“Some of us tried to force the door open, but immediately we touched it, there was shock. That was when we noticed naked wires inside. It must have been what caused the fire.”
“Two students sustained minor injuries while attempting to put out the fire. They were promptly attended to and later confirmed to be in stable condition. Their quick intervention, alongside others, helped to prevent the flames from spreading,” the student explained.
Speaking on the incident in a telephone interview with The Hope, the Students’ Union Government President, Comrade Shane Aigbodion, said the management was immediately alerted.
“We contacted the Rector’s office, the Dean of Students Affairs, and the Acting Rector as soon as the fire started. That was why the situation got the attention it deserved,” he said.
Aigbodion, however, praised the courage of his colleagues saying “the bravery of our students shows unity and responsibility in the face of crisis,” he said.
