An early morning fire, said to have mysteriously started at about 1am on Tuesday, has gutted a part of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State.

The area affected was said to be the Exams and Records building of the institution, leaving very vital documents destroyed.

A source said the fire, which was noticed by students around 1am , was believed to have been a deliberate act by some students over the recent decision of the school management to abolish the Computer Based Test, CBT, and revert to Pen on Paper Test, PPT for the exams which just started.

The Institution had in 2014 switched to the CBT mode for all exams in the school, and this was hailed by the students who believed that the PPT afforded lecturers an opportunity to fleece them.

Some students were even said to have warned the school management to shelve the move of reverting to PPT or face dire consequences.

A student, who spoke to DAILY POST on condition of anonymity, said the lecturers were not happy with the CBT mode as it stopped them from making financial and sexual demands on students before passing them.

“That is why they pushed for PPT in our exams which started yesterday which will favour them.”

No official of the institution accepted to comment on the incident.

But the Police Public Relations Officer of Anambra State Police Command, Haruna Mohammed, confirmed the incident.

He said the Police have mobilised its officers to the school to restore calm and ensure that the situation does not escalate.

“We have commenced investigation and the fire is believed to have been intentionally set by unknown persons. So far, no arrests have been made but we are on top of the situation,” said the PPRO.