No fewer than fourteen persons reportedly died when an inferno Engulfed an internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp in Ngala local government area of Borno state.
According to the the chairman of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency(SEMA), Yabawa Kolo, the fire, which broke out around 2:15pm on Thursday, spread the apartments of IDPs and devastated it.
Kolo put the number of affected at 1250.
“Today a gigantic fire outbreak engulfed thousands of temporary shades of IDPs living in IS Camp in Ngala LGA. 1250 houses were burnt to ashes, 14 lives were reportedly lost, 15 persons sustained various degrees of injuries and properties including food stuffs worth thousands of Naira were also lost,” he told reporters.
Kolo highlighted the adversity of the IDPs, saying their already sorry state, occasioned by financial Strait, economic conundrum and the COVID-19 pandemic, has now been compounded by an unfortunate fire incident.
“In this present economic quagmire coupled with the sad realities of COVID-19 pandemic these people need our prayers and support in kind or in cash more than ever before. Government, well meaning Nigerians and NGOs should come to their aid as a matter of urgency.”
Yusuf Gulumbo, an official of the state emergency management agency, said seven occupants of the camp sustained serious injuries while eight were with minor injuries.”
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the ministry of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development to investigation the fire outbreak.
The order was contained in a statement issued by the president’s media aide, Garba Shehu.
Buhari described the incident as “extremely horrifying”.
The president directed the ministry “investigate and report the circumstances leading to the incident, and advise on how a future occurrence will be averted.”
He also directed that urgent needs of affected victims should be provided. He commiserated with those who lost their lives while wishing the injured victims quick recovery.