From Joseph Asegba, Yola
A strange and devastating flesh-eating disease has struck Malabu community in Fufore Local Government Area of Adamawa State, leaving at least 30 people in severe pain and sparking urgent calls for government intervention.
Local authorities and health officials say the mysterious ailment begins as a painful boil, which then bursts and rapidly eats away at flesh, damaging bones and leaving victims with open, festering wounds.
Residents who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) described not only their physical agony but also the economic hardship caused by the condition.
Sabo, a woman battling the disease, recounted her ordeal:
It started like a boil with pains, later got swollen and burst, then began to eat up the flesh on my leg, damaging the bones and causing serious pain. This has left me with an open wound. I can’t explain what is happening to me.
She said the condition has persisted despite attempts at treatment and pleaded for urgent intervention:
We want government assistance before our entire community gets affected.
Another victim, Malam Junaidu Adamu, said the ailment began shortly after he returned from his farm two months ago.
It started like a boil, then burst and spread until my flesh started decaying.
Adamu revealed he spends about ₦25,000 weekly on medications, with little improvement. The burden has forced his wife to abandon her livelihood to care for him and their children.
This illness has brought us into hardship. Government must act fast before it spreads further.
The District Head of Malabu, Alhaji Aliyu Hammawa, confirmed that at least 30 residents have been affected. He said eight of the victims are currently receiving treatment at Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital (MAUTH) in Yola, while others are being managed at the local health facility.
While acknowledging the state government’s prompt response, Hammawa urged for a rapid investigation to determine the cause of the outbreak.
The situation is worrisome. We need urgent medical research to know what exactly is affecting our people.
The Chairman of the Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Suleiman Bashir, said the government had engaged with 28 of the victims, though only eight accepted referral for hospital treatment.
According to him, the state is fully covering the cost of treatment at MAUTH, while medical samples have been taken for histology testing, with results expected within 10 days.
Bashir appealed to residents to avoid traditional remedies and instead seek proper medical care.
We urge people to report unusual health conditions promptly for diagnosis and referral. The state government is committed to ensuring this outbreak is properly contained.
For now, uncertainty lingers in Malabu. Families grapple with mounting medical costs, lost income, and the fear of wider spread. Community leaders and residents continue to press for relief materials and a comprehensive investigation to uncover the root cause of the disease.
Until answers arrive, the mysterious ailment remains both a health crisis and a source of deep anxiety for the people of Fufore.
