An outbreak of a yet-to-be-disclosed disease has claimed the lives of several children in Bida and surrounding communities in Niger State, local officials and residents have confirmed.
The victims were taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Bida, but did not survive. Health workers said treatment efforts were hampered by a shortage of essential drugs.
Residents in the affected areas, including Bida and Agaie local councils, reported that fatalities have continued to rise since the outbreak began. One resident told reporters that children have been dying “almost daily” and appealed for urgent government intervention to supply drugs to local hospitals.
The situation has sparked growing concern in the communities, where families fear the disease could spread further without immediate medical support. Calls are mounting on the state government to provide emergency supplies to FMC Bida as well as the general hospitals in Bida and Agaie.
Confirming the outbreak, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tertiary Health Care, Dr. Mohammed Gana, acknowledged the situation but did not disclose the number of casualties. He said efforts were underway to contain the disease and ensure that hospitals receive the necessary support.
So far, the exact number of deaths remains unclear, but reports from local sources suggest that children are the most affected group.
