Official records comprising files, documents and journals were destroyed on Friday when fire gutted offices used as stores at the Kwara State University of Education, Ilorin.

The Incident, it was gathered, occurred at about 9:14pm in a building comprising four offices, three of which were affected by the blaze.

Some students of the University said the institution’s biology lab was also affected.

Daily Trust reports that the facility was formerly used as the Kwara State College of Education before its conversion to the University of Education by the state government.

The fire was suspected to have been caused by an unidentified person who set dry bushes on fire, which later spread to the building.

Confirming the incident in a statement on Saturday, spokesperson of the Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, said firefighters responded promptly and contained the fire.

He, however, said firefighters prevented the inferno “from spreading to the institution’s Biology Laboratory and other nearby buildings”.

He added that several other important files and records were recovered and saved during the operation.

Adekunle said the Director of the service, Alabi Muhammed, advised institutions and members of the public to desist from indiscriminate bush burning, particularly within and around school environment.

He also urged institutions to ensure safe clearing of vegetation, maintain buffer zones around buildings, store sensitive documents properly and provide basic firefighting equipment to reduce losses in the event of fire.

The Kwara State Fire Service reaffirmed its commitment to the protection of lives and property across the state. (Weekend Trust)