A Wednesday afternoon fire at a dormitory block at the Northern School of Business Senior High School (NOBISCO) has displaced many students, estimated at about 900.

The fire, which around 2pm has caused extensive damage to the building and destroyed students’ mattresses, trunks, uniforms, books, and other essential learning materials. 

Some students reportedly collapsed from shock during the incident and were rushed to nearby health facilities for care.

A Senior House Mistress of the  school, Anderatu Iddrisu, described the incident as devastating.

“We were in our office handling some issues with students when another student rushed in shouting ‘fire’ and demanding the keys to the dormitories,” she recounted.

She indicated that the affected students have lost all their personal belongings.

The Public Relations Officer of the Northern Regional Ghana National Fire Service, Assistant Divisional Officer Grade I Hudu Baba, said when  personnel from the fire service arrived, the fire had already engulfed the entire building, but they managed to bring it under control.

The Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf John, has since directed that the affected students should go home for one week while authorities put measures in place to provide temporary accommodation for them.

He said final-year students would be relocated to other dormitories, while further arrangements were being made to ensure the continuation of academic activities for the rest.