Fire Guts Offices At Kwara University, Destroys Official Records

A fire outbreak on Friday gutted offices used as stores at the Kwara State University of Education, Ilorin, destroying official records comprising files, documents and journals.

Naija News reports that the incident occurred at about 9:14 pm in a building comprising four offices, three of which were affected by the blaze, including the institution’s biology laboratory.

According to Daily Trust, the fire was suspected to have been caused by an unidentified person who set dry bushes on fire, which later spread to the building.

Confirming the incident in a statement on Saturday, the Fire Service Spokesperson, Hassan Adekunle, said firefighters responded promptly and contained the fire.

He, however, said firefighters prevented the inferno from spreading to the institution’s Biology Laboratory and other nearby buildings, stressing that several other important files and records were recovered and saved during the operation.

Adekunle said the Director of the service, Alabi Muhammed, advised institutions and members of the public to desist from indiscriminate bush burning, particularly within and around the school environment.

He also urged institutions to ensure safe vegetation clearance, maintain buffer zones around buildings, store sensitive documents properly, and provide basic firefighting equipment to reduce losses in the event of a fire.

The Kwara State Fire Service reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.