UNICAL Pledges Thorough Investigation Into Campus Fire As Students Emerge As Heroes

Eko Hot Blog reports the University of Calabar is set to conduct a comprehensive investigation following a fire outbreak that ravaged one of the institution’s buildings on Thursday night.

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The incident, which occurred at approximately 8:45 pm, targeted the storehouse of the Students’ Affairs Division, resulting in the destruction of crucial office equipment, including air conditioners, computers, and students’ files.

In response to the incident, the university’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Florence Obi, visited the fire scene and expressed concern over the extent of the damage. Prof Obi stated, “It is too early to talk about the cause of the fire incident. You can see that the fire is still on, and we have not been able to save the whole place.”

She continued, “We are not looking at the cause now, but we are making sure that the remaining building and part of the building are safe. Eventually, professionals and experts will be invited to help in the investigation to determine the cause of the fire outbreak.”

Addressing the failure of both the Federal Fire Service and the Cross River State Fire Service to respond promptly, Prof Obi acknowledged the heroic efforts of the students.

“The students of the University of Calabar saved the day. Despite the inferno, they came in and took risks. They went into the fire; they were using sticks and stones, and they were using everything available to them. They were rushing to fetch water in the hostels with soap just to see that they had saved their university. The students are my heroes.”

When questioned about the absence of fire service assistance, Prof Obi explained, “Now the issue of fire service is something we don’t have in the state. I went to the state fire service, and the trucks were down. I went to the federal fire service, and they told me their trucks were down. I went to NPA, and they said they were discharging, and according to their laws, anytime they were discharging, they would not be able to move their trucks in case they had any incidents.”

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The university vows to prioritize the safety of its students and staff, and the investigation is expected to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the fire outbreak.

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