A newly constructed female hostel at Sokoto State University was destroyed by fire on Tuesday, causing panic among students and staff.

The fire, which started around 3:30 p.m., completely consumed the building. The hostel was recently built to alleviate accommodation shortages faced by students.

Although the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, no casualties were reported as the hostel was unoccupied at the time. Students previously assigned to the facility had been relocated to older hostels following a directive from the university.

Firefighters arrived at the scene around 5:00 p.m. and worked to contain the blaze. Despite their efforts, the structure was severely damaged.

The incident has raised concerns within the university community, particularly regarding the safety of other campus facilities.

As of press time, the university authorities have not issued an official statement on the fire or its possible cause.

An investigation into the incident is expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the outbreak. (The Guardian)