A devastating fire swept through the Kalari settlement in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State on Saturday, killing three people and displacing over 3,000 residents.
The inferno, which started around 1:00 PM, swept across three villages and destroyed over 1,500 thatched homes.
The Nigerian military, alongside the Civilian Joint Task Force, swiftly responded to the emergency, with soldiers from the 222 Battalion providing first aid and evacuating the injured to the Maiduguri Specialist Hospital using Army ambulances.
Local authorities, including the Chairman of Konduga LGA, a member of the Borno State House of Assembly, and the Commissioner for Environment, coordinated immediate relief efforts to support the displaced families.
This tragedy comes just months after severe flooding in September 2024, caused by the collapse of the Alau Dam, which affected over 240,000 people across Konduga, Maiduguri, and Jere LGAs.
With many residents still struggling to recover, the fire has deepened then region’s humanitarian crisis.
A representative of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) confirmed that the Borno State Government has issued an urgent appeal for humanitarian assistance to aid victims of both the fire and the earlier floods.
Efforts are ongoing to provide emergency shelter, food, and medical care to those impacted by the disaster.