Fire guts 1,613 IDPs’ shelters, kills two people in Borno

The Muna Garage Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp; has been gutted by fire, destroying 1,613 makeshift shelters Saturday in Borno state.

The inferno could not be put off, as the makeshift shelters were clustered with a windstorm that fuels the spread of inferno to other IDPs’ houses.

Confirming the incident Monday in Maiduguri, Chairperson of Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA); Hajiya Yabawa Kolo disclosed that; “The IDP camp fire occurred on the eve of Eid-el-Fitr destroying over 1,600 makeshift shelters,” adding that two IDPs were killed in the inferno that Saturday evening.”

This year’s incessant IDP camps infernos has also destroyed other camps in Nganzai, Ngala, Mafa and Monguno, 135 kilometres north of Maiduguri, the state capital.

While briefing Governor Babagana Zulum on casualties, Kolo said that the IDP camp was gutted by fire; because the destroyed shelters were
clustered.

She noted that the windstorm; also fueled the rapid spread of fire onto other shelters razing them into ashes.

“Immediately I was informed about the camp fire incident, I rushed to the scene and mobilized support to put off the fire,” she told Zulum. Speaking on the closure of IDP camps, Zulum said: “I sympathized with you and family members over the destruction of your temporary shelters.

“May the souls of the killed IDPs rest in peace-Amen!”

He said the state government is looking into closing down 24 IDP camps so that every displaced person currently living in camps goes back home.

According to him, the Federal Government has already approved the building of 10,000 housing units across the state.
He further disclosed that as funds are released for housing projects; IDPs and their camps will be things of past.

“The State Government will soon rebuild this destroyed IDPs camp,” he said, adding that the Ministry of Water Resources should immediately sink a borehole at the camp to address people’s water supply problems.