Fire Guts Rabiri IDP Camp, 30 Households Displaced in Dikwa

By Abubakar Mala Gajibo 

No fewer than thirty households have been displaced following a fire outbreak at the Rabiri Internally Displaced Persons camp in Rabiri, Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State.

The inferno, which gutted sections of the camp, completely destroyed makeshift shelters and valuable personal belongings, leaving many families homeless for the second time in almost ten years.

Items lost in the incident include food supplies, non-food relief materials, livestock, and other means of livelihood, further worsening the condition of the already vulnerable victims who had earlier fled insurgency to seek refuge in the camp.

Most of the affected households are from Mukdala community of Mallam Maja Ward and Kudiye community of Afuye Ward, while others are from Massa and Ngubdori Chilaiye communities in Ufuye/Gujile Ward.

An eyewitness and resident of Dikwa, Abubakar Mustapha, told Radio Nigeria that the fire started at about 6:19 p.m., around the time of Maghrib prayers, and quickly went out of control, destroying many shelters and personal belongings before help could arrive.

Among the victims is a local tailor whose shop was completely burnt, destroying sewing machines and customers’ clothes, thereby cutting off his only source of livelihood.

Meanwhile, the Dikwa Local Government Authority has swiftly intervened by assessing the extent of the damage and mobilising support for the affected families.

Authorities have also advised residents of the camp to observe fire safety measures to prevent a recurrence.