ABU-SBRS’s fire incidence: One disaster, too many

However, the frequent fire incidences happening at the school became a source of worry, threatening to cause the relocation of the school to another place.  Disturbed by the incessant fire, the Funtua community, under its District head, Sarkin Maska Alhaji Sambo Idris, established the SBRS/Funtua Relations Committee to address the issue. The committee is mandated […]

However, the frequent fire incidences happening at the school became a source of worry, threatening to cause the relocation of the school to another place.  
Disturbed by the incessant fire, the Funtua community, under its District head, Sarkin Maska Alhaji Sambo Idris, established the SBRS/Funtua Relations Committee to address the issue.
The committee is mandated to provide structures lost to the inferno through soliciting for assistance from philanthropists and state governments, especially those who have invested so much in the institution in the area of hostel accommodation that were destroyed by the fire.
A stakeholders’ meeting was called where discussions were held about the economic and social advantages the community is deriving from the operation of the school which every year is able to graduate, at least, 1,700 students for immediate placement into ABU from the quota allocated to it by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
Speaking at the meeting, Idris expressed dissatisfaction with the increased cases of fire incidents and disagreement between the school management and workers.
Idris said that the meeting was aimed at proffering solutions to the lingering relationship among workers, students and host community.  
He said that the host community members were ready to partner with the institution’s management and entire workers to propel the institution forward for the benefits of all Nigerians.
He said the school has been providing education opportunity for Nigerians, especially from northern states.  
Shedding more light on the fire incidence, the secretary of the committee Musa Yahaya said the school has recorded 14 fire incidences, so far, with different speculations as to the causes of the unfortunate incidences.
He said that many people suspect an insider’s involvement in the ugly cases as well as some persons who do not want the school’s existence.
He said: “From our preliminary findings we are able to figure that most of the fire incidences were not from electrical surge as students don’t cook in our hostels. At times, when the fire incidences became rampant we decided to, by 6am, disconnect all hostels from power supply.  
“One cannot rule out sabotage and the fire seems to be fueled as whenever it occurs in any hostel of 30 rooms, it will not take up to 10 minutes before it will consume the whole block. The speed of the fire is alarming.
 “What made us so convinced that a third party is behind the fire is when the school’s director started receiving threats text messages on phone. The local government chairman also receives similar text messages that his efforts at curtailing the fire by rapid response of local government fire services cannot help out. And that henceforth if he tries to send vehicles, they will deal with him.”
On whether the committee is suspecting someone, he said they are not pointing accusing finger at anybody for now, but when the suspect that has been apprehended, now with the SSS in Kaduna, squeaks, they can reveal the culprits.
He said the suspect has been in detention for close to two months and the committee reliably gathered that he made some useful statements, claiming that he knows who are behind the fire incidences.   
The director of the school Professor Ibrahim Zubairu said the incessant fire outbreaks have damaged students’ hostels, administration block and mosque.  
Zubairu said the student population has increased from 750 to about 2,000 now, adding the school has the capacity to admit 2,500 per session.
He said that many northern states government have not redeemed their N15 million pledges to the school for construction works, adding that the school faces accommodation challenges and dearth of other teaching facilities, in spite of some donations from philanthropists.  
He explained that the persistent fire incidents have prevented the management from executing projects in the school.   
In his remarks, a member of the committee Idris Ishaq said that probably students are used as a tool to perpetrate the unholy act, adding that it is only when the students are in the school that the fire outbreaks happen.
He called on the general public to know that Funtua community is willing and eager to see to the development of the school as it belongs to the entire north, adding: “If we fail a session we automatically lost it, JAMB will have to find alternative and the north is at loss.
“We don’t want the school to be relocated because of its records. We are calling on well meaning Nigerians to come to our aid. Now the hostels are burnt and students can no longer stay. We have to shut down the school, thereby compounding the educational woes of the region.”