Explosions In Gombe State University Send Lecturers, Students Fleeing

SaharaReporters just learnt that a series of explosions rocked the campus of Gombe State University late this evening (Nigerian time).

A source who lives close to the university told SaharaReporters that the explosions occurred around 8 p.m. (Nigerian time), adding that the explosions appeared to be at or near the university’s administrative block.

“The explosions happened around 8 p.m. And immediately students started running out of the classes where they were studying, and those in hostels followed suit,” said our source.

The source added that the explosions were followed by incessant gunfire that lasted for more than 30 minutes.

“The gun battle has now ceased, but nobody can really whether there were any casualties. Still, the source said the ferocity of the explosions as well as the heavy gun fight led him to believe there must be casualty.

The source added that many students, lecturers and staff of the university were now trapped outside the campus, and were unlikely to return until the nature of the explosions is ascertained.

“There is heavy tension even among those of us living near the university,” said the source, adding that he and many of his neighbors “will be sleeping with one eye open until we get the details of what happened.

The explosions at Gombe State University came on a day that suspected Boko Haram militants launched attacks at buildings housing newspaper offices in Kaduna and Abuja.

Our correspondent was unable to reach any police or security authorities to comment on the explosions