Fire Kills Three, Destroys Hundreds of Homes in Borno IDP Settlement
For the second time in just over a year, a fire has swept through Kalari in Borno, northeastern Nigeria, killing three and destroying hundreds of makeshift homes. The cause remains unknown.
A devastating fire outbreak swept through Kalari Abdullahi village on Sunday, April 6, destroying hundreds of makeshift shelters and claiming the lives of two children and an elderly man. The village is located along the Maiduguri–Konduga road in Borno State, northeastern Nigeria.
Residents who spoke to HumAngle said the fire broke out around 1 p.m., spreading rapidly through the densely packed settlement, where shelters are constructed from highly flammable materials.
“It is a tragic loss,” said Abdullahi Aji, a resident. “The entire community is in mourning. We pray for comfort and strength for the families affected by this incident.”
Kalari is home to hundreds of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who fled their communities following years of violence by terrorist groups in the region.
The fire left many families homeless once again, worsening an already dire humanitarian situation. Several residents were seen combing through the charred remains, attempting to salvage what little they could from the debris.
At the time of filing this report, efforts to reach the Borno State Fire Service for an official statement were unsuccessful. The cause of the fire remains unknown. However, affected residents are calling for urgent support, improved shelter infrastructure, and the implementation of fire prevention measures to avert future tragedies.
This is not the first time Kalari has faced such devastation. Last year, a similar fire outbreak tore through the community, destroying several shelters and displacing hundreds of people. Multiple other incidents were also recorded across IDP communities in the North East during the same period, including a major fire at Muna Kumburi that killed two teenagers and destroyed 3,200 shelters.
A fire engulfed Kalari Abdullahi village in northeastern Nigeria, killing two children and an elderly man, and ravaging makeshift shelters occupied by internally displaced persons.
The blaze ignited around 1 p.m., sweeping through the settlement due to the flammable materials used for the shelters. This tragedy compounds the suffering of residents already fleeing violence from terrorist activities.
Efforts to reach authorities have been unsuccessful, and the fire's origin remains unknown. Residents demand urgent support, improved shelter safety, and fire prevention strategies. This incident mirrors past fires in the region, highlighting the ongoing vulnerability of IDP communities to such disasters.
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