A gas explosion occurred on Sunday, 16 November, at about 4:45 p.m. in Moremi Hall of residence, throwing the residents of Block D into a panic. The incident happened in Room 104 on the lower floor, where an occupant was cooking.
According to residents, the fire erupted suddenly, forcing students in the block to rush out of their rooms. Hall wardens were immediately alerted, but attempts to control the fire were hindered by the lack of a water supply in the hostel at the time.
Some residents expressed concerns over the limited availability of fire extinguishers. ‘We tried to help, but there was no water to quench the fire,’ one occupant said.
In response, the wardens contacted the fire service. However, students claimed that the firefighting support, upon arrival, was insufficient to fully contain the blaze. No casualties were reported, although part of the outer brick structure had to be broken during attempts to manage the fire.
Shortly after the incident, the Chairperson of Moremi Hall, Ogunbayo Dorcas, addressed residents, assuring them that the situation had been brought under control. Her statement read:
We are pleased to inform all residents of Moremi Hall of Residence that the fire which broke out this evening has been successfully extinguished. Thankfully, everyone is safe, and there have been no reported injuries.
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‘The local fire brigade, along with our dedicated Union Officers, acted swiftly to contain the blaze. Thanks to their quick response, the damage has been minimised, and the situation is now under control. We urge all residents to remain calm and stay vigilant as the area is assessed for any further safety concerns.’
The Hall Chairperson concluded, ‘We thank everyone for their cooperation and remain committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all Moremi residents. Stay safe, Moremi Queens.”
The incident has renewed conversations about hostel safety and the necessity for the university authorities to make provisions for student safety.
All efforts to obtain more information from occupants proved abortive as the hall Chairperson maintained that no interviews should be granted to members of ACJOAU. She further stated that no response or regard would be given to any attempts to gather more information from her.