Two elderly women and six children were killed when a powerful windstorm swept through an internally displaced persons’ camp in the Monguno Local Government Area on Monday night causing the building they were in to collapse.

Another elderly woman and two men were severely injured. They are receiving treatment in a hospital in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.

Residents of the Science Secondary School Monguno IDP camp said many tents were destroyed and other buildings also collapsed in the windstorm. Several other residents were also injured but not seriously and they were receiving treatment at clinics in Monguno town.

Mohammed Isa, chairman of the Monguno Youth Development Association and a resident of Monguno town, described the windstorm as extreme and said he was surprised no one else had died or was seriously injured.

“The windstorm was extremely powerful and many tents were destroyed – many residents are lucky to still be alive.”

He said a fire had raged through the camp in February during the presidential elections. Hundreds of tents and huts burnt down and the fire had weakened the foundations of most of the buildings, making them vulnerable to collapse.

“We are monitoring the situation and assessing the damage. Many of the residents need new shelters, food and other essential items. We are appealing to the government, non-governmental organisations and humanitarian agencies to come to their aid.”

Saina Boni, also a resident of Monguno town, said the government urgently needed to renovate and rebuild the houses and other buildings that were damaged in the fire.

“If they remain as they are, they could easily collapse if there is another extreme windstorm. And now that we are in the rainy season, heavy downpours could also cause more buildings to collapse. Many more people might die if nothing is done.”

SHETTIMA LAWAN MONGUNO