From Paul Orude, Bauchi
A fire has destroyed the College for Qur’anic Science and Islamic Studies, founded by renowned Islamic scholar Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, in Rafin Albasa, Bauchi State. The blaze gutted multi-storey buildings, including offices, classrooms, laboratories, computer rooms, libraries, and a staff room.
The cause of the fire remains unknown at the time of this report. The inferno also consumed clothing, mattresses, blankets, and other valuables belonging to staff and students.
Sayyadi Aliyu Sise Dahiru, Director General of Education at the Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi Foundation, expressed sympathy for the affected staff and students. “We thank the Almighty Allah that the incident happened after school hours in the evening,” he said, noting no lives were lost and no students were injured.
Sise Dahiru highlighted the college’s significance, saying, “The College was established by Maulana Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi and affiliated with Al-Azhar University, Cairo. It was commissioned by the former President, Architect Muhammad Namadi Sambo.” He added that the institution combines Western and Islamic education with entrepreneurial skills to prepare students for society.
The fire destroyed valuable books by Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, Late Dr. Hadi Sheikh Dahiru, Late Ahmad Sheikh Dahiru, and other Islamic scholars. Moh’d Labubakar, representing the State Fire Service, detailed the losses: approximately 5,000 library books, 250 student mattresses, 250 beds, 355 metres of carpet, 24 wardrobes, 300 chairs, 60 bags of rice, 25 bags of beans, 12 jerricans of palm oil, 13 jerricans of groundnut oil, 15 cartons of seasonings, 43 mats, 150 rubber kettles, 1,583 pieces of students’ clothing, 7,228 writing and textbooks, 317 plates, 89 sets of teachers’ clothing, 3 handsets, and students’ credentials.
Sise Dahiru praised the State Fire Service for their efforts, saying, “We also thank the men of the State Fire Service, who spent over three hours before they were able to put out the fire.”