A fire outbreak has burnt the College for Qur’anic Science and Islamic Studies belonging to the revered Islamic scholar Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi at Rafin Albasa in Bauchi State.
Rimawaglobalnews gathered that the fire caused extensive damage to the college’s storey buildings, destroying offices, classrooms, laboratories, computer rooms, libraries, and a staff room on the upper floor.
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined. The blaze also destroyed clothing materials, mattresses, blankets, and other personal belongings of both staff and students.
Director General of Education at the Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi Foundation, Sayyadi Aliyu Sise Dahiru, who spoke to journalists during a tour of the affected facilities, commiserated with the staff and students.
He thanked Almighty Allah that no lives were lost and no student sustained injuries during the incident.
He said, “The college was established by Maulana Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi and is affiliated with Al-Azhar University in Cairo. It was commissioned by former vice president Muhammad Namadi Sambo.
“The institution offers both Western and Islamic education alongside entrepreneurial skills to equip students for productive roles in society.”
He added, “We thank Almighty Allah that the incident occurred after school hours in the evening. We also appreciate the efforts of the State Fire Service, which spent over three hours battling the fire.”
He revealed that invaluable books belonging to Maulana Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, the late Dr Hadi Sheikh Dahiru, the late Ahmad Sheikh Dahiru, and other notable Islamic scholars were lost in the inferno.
Speaking on behalf of the State Fire Service, Muhammad Labubakar confirmed the extent of the damage. He listed items destroyed in the fire, including about 5,000 library books, 250 students’ mattresses and 250 beds, 355 metres of carpet, 24 wardrobes/lockers and 300 students’ chairs.
Others are food supplies including 60 bags of rice, 25 bags of beans, 12 jerrycans of palm oil, 13 jerrycans of groundnut oil, 1,583 sets of students’ clothing, 7,228 student writing and textbooks and several students’ credentials.
