A fire outbreak has destroyed no fewer than 76 shelters housing Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at Ngamma village in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State, leaving dozens of families homeless and deepening an already dire humanitarian situation.
The incident, which occurred at the IDP camp on Saturday, also led to the loss of livestock, foodstuffs and other essential belongings. Preliminary findings indicate that one person sustained injuries and has been hospitalised, while at least one household was completely burnt.
Eyewitnesses and affected residents, many of them displaced from neighbouring Borno State, described the incident as devastating, appealing to government and humanitarian agencies for urgent assistance. They said several bags of foodstuffs and animals were destroyed in the blaze, worsening the suffering of the victims.
Confirming the incident, the Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (YOSEMA), Dr Mohammed Goje, said the agency’s assessment team had visited the camp to ascertain the extent of the damage.
“This is a very unfortunate incident. Seventy-six shelters occupied by IDPs from Borno State were affected by the fire. One person sustained injuries and is currently receiving medical treatment,” Goje said.
He added that YOSEMA had begun compiling data from affected households to guide response efforts and facilitate possible intervention by relevant authorities and humanitarian partners.
