Tragedy as 7 IDPs  die in Borno building collapse

Tragedy in Borno state as seven Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) reportedly died while two others sustained varying degrees of injuries in Borno building collapse.

The victims were among the people displaced from their residences by terrorists in the northeastern region of the country.

It was gathered that the incident happened at the camp in Monguno around 1930 GMT on Monday following torrential rains the previous day.

“Seven people were killed in (the) incident, and two others were injured and presently in hospital,” The PUNCH quoted an anti-jihadist militia leader, Musa Kaka, saying.

Monguno, 135 km (85 miles) from the regional capital Maiduguri, is home to thousands of IDPs who fled their towns and villages to escape the jihadist insurgency, which has also killed 40,000 people.

They live in makeshift camps under military and militia protection.

Around two million people have been displaced since the rebellion began in 2009.

The accident happened in a secondary school turned IDP camp where around 5,000 people live in classrooms, Kaka said.

The affected classroom had been weakened from a previous fire outbreak, and the hours-long downpour on Sunday caused the collapse, said Bello Adamu, another militiaman, who gave the same toll.

The seven fatalities were buried on Tuesday, a resident, Ahmad Babangida, who attended the ceremony, told journalists.