ABSU Campus on Edge as Lecturer’s Office Burned After Controversial Physics Exam

Tension has swept through Abia State University (ABSU) Uturu after the office of a senior lecturer, Dr. Okezuonu Patrick Chinedu, was destroyed in a suspected arson attack barely a day after first-year students sat for the widely dreaded Physics 104 examination. The fire, which broke out in the early hours of Sunday, left the campus in shock as staff and students watched years of academic materials go up in flames.

Witnesses said smoke was seen rising from the Science Faculty building at dawn, prompting a swift response from university security and early-arriving staff. Although the blaze was contained before spreading, the damage to documents, research files, exam scripts, and office equipment was extensive.

While no individual or group has taken responsibility, conversations among students suggest the incident may be tied to frustrations over the Physics 104 exam, a course notorious for its difficulty. Many first-year students had complained about the paper, with some describing it as overwhelming. This year, the tension appears to have escalated beyond the usual academic panic.

Despite the scale of the incident, the university has not released an official statement. Sources say administrators are handling the matter quietly to avoid inflaming the situation. Dr. Okezuonu has also remained silent, though his decision to reschedule the exam for November 21 has stirred even more unrest among students who were hoping to move on.

The lecturer has long been known among science and medical students for setting demanding assessments, a reputation supported by the number of students who retake his course each year. Some of them, including 200-Level students rewriting the course alongside freshers, expressed frustration over both the academic load and the disruption caused by the fire.

One of these students, Adaugo Paul of the College of Medicine, said the situation has added pressure at a time when many are preparing for major professional exams. She questioned whether repeated mass failures were solely due to merit, describing the pattern as troubling. Others, particularly freshers like Kingsley Osuala, voiced disappointment that the rescheduled exam has delayed travel plans and prolonged an already intense academic session.

Security on campus has since been tightened, with increased patrols and stricter access to certain buildings. Staff have been advised to safeguard important materials off-site, and student leaders have been urged to help maintain calm. Officials warn that anyone found responsible faces both disciplinary action and possible prosecution, though no suspects have been named.

The incident has sparked broader conversations about the pressures within Nigeria’s university system—demanding coursework, strained lecturer-student relationships, and limited support structures. For many on campus, the fire represents not only a criminal act but also a sign of deeper frustrations that have long gone unaddressed.