A fire outbreak in the early hours of Saturday destroyed a section of the Hamidu Ahmed Medical Library at the Teaching Hospital Complex of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), razing adjoining offices and the facility’s solar power installations.
The cause of the fire had not been officially determined as of the time of filing this report, although some sources attributed the incident to a power surge.
Another source said the fire raged for more than an hour before it was brought under control.
The fire, which reportedly started around 4:00 a.m., prompted an immediate response from the university authorities and emergency services.
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The Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Prof. Abdulganiyu Jimoh, said the combined efforts of the university’s firefighting team and the Sokoto State Fire Service successfully contained the blaze, preventing it from spreading to the library’s main collections.
He said the library’s books and other core collections were not affected, and no significant structural damage was recorded that would compromise the safety of the materials.
However, the adjoining offices and the library’s solar power installations were completely destroyed.
As a precaution, the Hamidu Ahmed Medical Library has been closed to the public for one week to allow technical experts to conduct comprehensive safety inspections, cleaning, and other necessary assessments before the facility reopens.
Prof. Jimoh commended the swift response of the university administration, led by the Vice-Chancellor, as well as the University Librarian, the Dean of Student Affairs, the Chief Security Officer, the Deputy Director of SMLS, Prof. S.A. Isezuo, student leaders, university staff, and personnel of both the university and the Sokoto State Fire Service for their prompt intervention, which helped prevent more extensive damage.
He advised members of the university community to make alternative arrangements for their library needs during the temporary closure.
The university said further updates would be provided as investigations into the cause of the fire and safety assessments continue.
