Fire engulfs Federal College of Education in Enugu

A fire on Monday night destroyed a major building at the Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu, in Enugu State, leaving several important units in ruins and raising suspicion among members of the school community.

The affected structure housed the Exams and Records Unit as well as the Procurement Department.

It also contained the Centre for Educational Technology, the Governing Council Chambers and the Integrated Science Laboratory.

Sources within the institution told Very Nigerian on Wednesday that the fire broke out at night and completely razed the building.

According to them, there was no electricity supply at the time of the incident and no bush burning was taking place nearby, a situation that has led to claims that the blaze may have been an act of sabotage.

A staff member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged the fire was deliberately set to frustrate ongoing petitions before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.

“I can tell you categorically that the building was burned down because of several petitions to the EFCC, ICPC, and the Federal Ministry of Education regarding the criminal diversion of college vehicles and embezzlement of funds,” the source alleged.

The staff member added that with the provost’s position recently advertised, there were fears that sensitive documents needed for potential prosecution were targeted.

In a message sent to the Governing Council and made available to our correspondent, a concerned stakeholder described the fire as “despicable” and raised concerns about students whose academic records were destroyed.

The message read in part, “By Tuesday, March 3, 2026, we woke up to the news of a fire incident which engulfed the Centre for Educational Technology building. Everything was burnt to ashes; not even a pin was saved. Note that there was no trace of bush burning and no electricity in the compound.

“What is the fate of students whose results were consumed? What happens to the destiny of someone who graduated in 2012 that requests for a transcript?”

The petitioner also accused the college management of disregarding council instructions, including the failure to hold a scheduled election for a Deputy Provost.

Efforts to reach the Provost, Dr Pauline N. Ikwuegbu, for comments were unsuccessful.

The Enugu State Fire Service has yet to issue a statement on the cause of the fire.

The governing council has been urged to act decisively to save the institution from what stakeholders described as “imminent collapse and total destruction.

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