EKPOMA-Two departments-Civil Engineering and philosophy of the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma-Edo State were on Thursday night gutted by fire, destroying vital documents and property worth millions of naira.
Though the cause of the fire is yet to be established, there is high suspicion of foul play, as the office of the exam officer of civil engineering, containing students’ results, examination scripts and records were burnt to ashes.
A staff of the university, (name withheld) told The NIGERIAN OBSERVER that he saw a suspected arsonist pouring liquid substance suspect to be fuel on an air conditioner before striking a match, after which he allegedly ran away.
While the department of philosophy was completely razed down, the fire was curtailed at civil engineering department by efforts of the dean of students, Chief Security Officer and members of students’ union government and some others.
There was also reports of looting, as some students took advantage of the situation to steal valuable property, including generator sets, plasma television, computer UPS, laptops and others.
Property destroyed by the fire include air conditioners, ceiling fans, office cabinets, refrigerators, office chairs and tables, computers, television and others.
The university’s spokesiperson, Sir Chris Adamaigbo was not available for comments as he was said to be observing strike action called by Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).
However a senior staff of the university who pleaded anonymity, said student results were salvage from the inferno.
