UNIUYO FEMALE HOSTEL GOES UP IN FLAMES SEE DETAILS

But whatever celebration, characteristically modest or unusually lavish, planned for the day, went up in flames literally and literarily, turning the planned or muted celebration into anger, anguish and sorrow.

In fact, if the fire had consulted the authorities of the institution, and insisted that it must consume the female hostel before the end of this year, probably, they would have pleaded with it: “fire, fire, go away, come again another day, our big boss wants to celebrate.”

But fire, like most disaster, has no such public relations. So, with its characteristic violent gluttony, it consumed property worth millions of naira, especially, priceless certificates of students who were still undergoing screening; clothing, jewellery, electronic, beddings and other personal effects of both the official residents and the other category called squatters. By the time it was forced to dispense of its energy after one hour, the fire said to have begun around 11.50 a.m, had wrecked enough havoc to deal everlasting psychological scare on some of the affected female students, and maybe, their sponsors.

Attempts by the Akwa Ibom State fire Service men to put out the fire were wantonly thwarted by the angry students who felt that their (firemen) response time was too slow. Daily Sunwatched as the angry mob descended on the fire trucks, damaging the windshield of the newer truck before the driver managed to escape with it.

Not done with their demonstration of anger, the students marched into streets, blocking Ikpa Road and the adjourning Ikot Ekpene Road, smashing vehicles and trying to make bonfires until the police, led by Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Uyo area command came to dislodge them.
The Director of Information of the students’ union government of the university, Mr Dianabasi Inyang described the incident as “pathetic, especially today being the fist day of December.”

He said the students’ demonstration was a way of getting government’s attention. “If the hostel were built with blocks, the fire couldn’t have burnt it down so fast. But we condemn the violent demonstration by the students.” Inyang said the incident was not bad enough for the school to think of closing down especially as the students had just returned from the ASUU strike-forced holiday.

He said since the school had an existing insurance policy, to which the students are forced to subscribe with an insurance company in the state, the affected students would be compensated.
The vice chancellor of the school, Prof. Essien, said the incident was unfortunate, happening at a time efforts were being made to rebuild and reposition the school, especially the prefab hostels which were to be replaced with concrete structures.

“The unfortunate situation coincides with the fourth year anniversary of my administration as the vice chancellor; it is a serious setback to the image of this university which is well spoken of by all.
“But we’ll ensure that the best comes out of the ashes as we did when the CommunicationArts studio went up inflames a few days to its inauguration.”

While thanking the “gallant” male students who helped to put off the fire, Essien stressed that only students rightly allocated the accommodation, would be considered in terms of claims as regards loss of credentials and other documents that may affect their eventual screening.

Maybe, the fire incident was a blessing in disguise, as it might hasten the demolition of the colonial wooden prefabs said to have been built in the 60s when the school was a Teacher Training College (TTC), before it changed into Advanced Teachers training College (ATTC), further mutated to College of Education, transmuted again into University of Cross River State before finally assuming the present name. But the name of names did not affect the prefabs. The particular one burnt; 3B, was said to have accommodated officially, 48 students withmore than 200 squatters and hangers-on.

But officials of the state fire service were not amused when speaking with Daily Sun about their losses in the incident. The public relations officer, Mrs Nsikak Godwin, who showed our correspondent the damaged vehicle, said one of their drivers was kidnapped by the students, and was only rescued by the officials of the students’ union government who later smuggled him out of the campus after changing his fire service uniform to mufti.

“We are putting heads together to reach out to the state government to see how we can replace the destroyed items, especially, the instantaneous cobbling which they took away. Next time they have such incident and invite us, we will be scared to go because that has always been our experience in UNIUYO. They had attacked us several times in the past” Godwin said.