MONGUNO, Nigeria – Seven people were killed and two others injured when a building collapsed in an Internally Displaced Persons, IDP, camp in the garrison town of Monguno, northeast Nigeria’s Borno State.
According to militia sources and residents, the incident occurred around 1930 GMT on Monday, August 28, 2023, following torrential rains the previous day.
The collapse involved a classroom that had been converted into a shelter for IDPs.
“Seven people were killed in the incident, and two others were injured and are currently in the hospital,” said anti-jihadist militia leader Musa Kaka.
Monguno, located 135 kms (85 miles) from the regional capital Maiduguri, has been a sanctuary for thousands of IDPs fleeing the jihadist insurgency that has claimed at least 40,000 lives since 2009.
These IDPs live in makeshift camps under the protection of the military and local militias.
The collapsed building was part of a secondary school turned into an IDP camp, housing around 5,000 people in its classrooms.
Bello Adamu, another member of the anti-jihadist militia, said the classroom had been weakened from a previous fire, and the recent heavy rainfall was the final straw that led to its tragic collapse.
Ahmad Babangida, a resident who attended the burial ceremony for the seven victims, stated, “My friend’s son was among the seven dead, and his wife is in the hospital with a fractured leg.”
Building collapses are unfortunately not uncommon in Nigeria, largely due to substandard construction materials, negligence, and poor enforcement of building codes.
This tragic event has drawn attention to the critical state of infrastructure in IDP camps and the pressing need for improved living conditions for those displaced by violence.
As relief and aid organizations mobilize to provide support, questions are being raised about the government’s role in ensuring the safety and welfare of its displaced population.
There are calls for immediate action to review and reinforce the structural integrity of buildings in IDP camps nationwide.
The tragedy underscores the urgent need for adequate infrastructure and proper oversight to protect those who have already lost so much and prevent future disasters.
