No fewer than 100 thatched shelters have been destroyed by a fire outbreak at the Water Board Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Monguno, Borno State.

The Borno State Police Command confirmed the incident on Saturday, saying the fire broke out at about 4:30 p.m. on Friday.

Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Daso, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the incident was reported to the Monguno Police Station by the camp chairman, Bukar Mbati.

According to Daso, the inferno spread rapidly, consuming over 100 thatched houses and destroying foodstuffs and other household belongings of displaced persons.

He said operatives of the State Fire Service, in collaboration with the police and other security agencies stationed in the area, were able to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading further.

“A patrol team led by the Divisional Police Officer, Supol Monguno, visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment. No life was lost and no injury was recorded,” Daso said, adding that photographs of the affected areas had been taken while the total value of the destroyed property was yet to be determined.

The police spokesperson disclosed that investigations had commenced to establish the cause of the fire.

The incident comes barely days after a similar fire outbreak razed 76 temporary shelters housing Internally Displaced Persons from Borno State at Ngamma village in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.

In that incident, the afternoon blaze spread quickly through the makeshift structures before it was brought under control, leaving several families homeless. One person sustained injuries and was hospitalised, while many households lost livestock, food supplies and other essential items.