Three dead, thousands displaced in Borno fire outbreak

Abdullateef Fowewe

A devastating fire has reportedly destroyed the Kalari settlement in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.

The fire, which began around 1 pm on Sunday, ravaged three villages, completely engulfing over 1,500 thatched homes.

According to Zagazola Makama, a publication focused on counter-insurgency in the Lake Chad region, the fire tragically claimed the lives of three individuals and left more than 3,000 people displaced.

In response to the disaster, military forces and the Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) swiftly mobilised to provide immediate aid.

Personnel from the 222 Battalion administered first aid to the injured and transported them to the Maiduguri Specialist Hospital using army ambulances.

Local authorities, including the chairman of Konduga LGA, a member of the House of Assembly and the Commissioner for Environment, have been actively coordinating relief efforts for the affected families.

This disaster adds to the region’s ongoing struggles, as Konduga LGA was also severely affected by flooding in 2024, which followed the collapse of the Alau Dam. The floods displaced over 200,000 people across Konduga, Maiduguri, and Jere LGAs.