At least one person has been confirmed dead from Lassa fever. At the same time, more than 50 individuals have been placed under surveillance in Ogbadibo and Okpokwu Local Government Areas of Benue State to prevent further infections.
The Benue State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ejeh-Ogwuche, disclosed this to journalists in Makurdi on Thursday. He said that, in the interest of public safety and disease containment, the state government had sealed off a private hospital and mortuary where the victim’s remains were kept before burial. The facilities, he added, will remain closed pending full decontamination, disinfection, and epidemiological investigation.
Dr. Ejeh-Ogwuche explained that the deceased, a 54-year-old woman from Ogbadibo LGA, died on Sunday, October 25, 2025, at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi, where laboratory tests confirmed Lassa fever as the cause of death.
The commissioner noted that the state’s epidemic response team acted swiftly after reports indicated that the victim’s body had been forcefully taken away by community youths, in violation of safe burial protocols.
“I personally led a high-powered delegation of health officials and security operatives to Ogbadibo and Okpokwu LGAs following a confirmed case of Lassa fever and a serious breach of safe burial procedures,” Dr. Ejeh-Ogwuche said.
He added that the Rapid Response Team faced resistance from some youths during the initial containment efforts, after which the body was taken to a private mortuary in Ugbokolo, Okpokwu LGA.
Following dialogue with the family, traditional rulers, and community leaders, the body was eventually retrieved and reburied safely in Orokam by the State Safe Burial Team, in accordance with WHO and NCDC protocols.
“Public health safety is our top priority. The government cannot allow any act that endangers the lives of citizens. I commend the cooperation of local government chairmen, traditional rulers, and security agencies who helped us resolve the situation peacefully,” the commissioner stated.
He appealed to residents to avoid handling corpses of persons suspected to have died from infectious diseases and to report any case of prolonged fever or bleeding to the nearest health facility immediately.
Dr. Ejeh-Ogwuche further assured that Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration remains fully committed to protecting lives and maintaining vigilance against public health threats across the state.
