Snakebite kills two in Taraba border community as residents decry poor healthcare access
Two Snakebite Fatalities Prompt Concerns in Taraba Community
LISSAM SAMBO (PANGTSO), Taraba State — Two residents of the Lissam Sambo community, located in the Ussa Local Government Area, died from snakebites within a 24-hour period, highlighting the urgent need for medical care in this remote area.
Elder Bako Awanki, one of the victims, succumbed to a snakebite on the evening of July 23, 2026. A second resident, who experienced a snakebite in a separate incident, also died later that night.
The Lissam Sambo community, situated near the Cameroon border, lacks a healthcare facility that provides access to anti-snake venom. Consequently, both individuals sought traditional remedies due to the unavailability of immediate medical treatment.
Community leaders believe the delay in receiving appropriate care contributed to the fatalities. Danladi Bewa, Chairman of the Lissam Sambo Community Development Association, expressed his sorrow over the incidents, stating that the community has experienced multiple fatalities due to similar circumstances.
“Many residents have lost their lives because anti-snake venom is unavailable here, and the nearest facilities equipped to handle snakebite emergencies are too far away,” Bewa said.
In response to the fatalities, he urged local officials, including Ussa Council Chairman Abershi Musa, to urgently provide anti-snake venom to the community. Bewa also called on the Taraba State Commissioner for Health to ensure that life-saving medication is made accessible at local health facilities.
“Timely access to the medication would significantly cut preventable deaths and enhance emergency healthcare services in the area,” he noted.
Bewa expressed confidence in the local government’s commitment to public welfare but emphasized the need for immediate action to address this pressing public health issue and prevent further tragedies.
