Panic gripped students of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, on Saturday when fire gutted a wooden shop beside a hostel on the campus.
Eyewitnesses said the fire started suddenly, adding that attempts by students to break into the shop failed.
“Some of us tried to force the door open, but we experienced electric shock immediately. That was when we noticed naked wires inside, which must have caused the fire,” one student recounted.
Two students sustained minor injuries while battling the inferno but were later confirmed to be in stable condition after receiving treatment. Their quick intervention, alongside others, prevented the flames from spreading.
The Students’ Union Government (SUG) President, Comrade Shane Aigbodion, told The Hope that the school management was alerted immediately.
“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 the students, describing their swift response as a display of unity and responsibility.
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