A female student of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, identified only as Precious, has been killed in a gas explosion.

UGAMATV gathered that the incident happened on Thursday in one of the off-campus lodges of the university at Ifite, Awka.

Some other occupants of the lodge reportedly sustained injuries from the inferno.

A source said, “The young lady was trapped by a collapsed wall of the building resulting from the explosion and was burnt beyond recognition.

“The lodge is predominantly occupied by UNIZIK students living off campus.”

A resident, Obinna Anyanwu, said the explosion was caused by one of the occupants of the building who was frying with a gas cooker in her room.

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He said, “One of the occupants was frying popcorn in the room when the incident occurred. Most rooms in the lodge were affected and property destroyed.

“We actually tried putting out the fire, but we couldn’t until men of the fire service arrived. We also tried to rescue the girl who was trapped by the collapsed wall, but we couldn’t until she eventually died.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ikenga Tochukwu, confirmed the incident, adding that investigation was ongoing.