Tragedy strikes Efu Lungoyi community in Bida local government in Niger state as diphtheria claims the life of a 8-year-old boy, leaving several children gravely ill in a suspected outbreak of diphtheria.
By Anna Moses
Diphtheria, a preventable bacterial infection that chokes airways and can kill swiftly without treatment, has haunted Nigeria for decades but exploded in recent years.
The nightmare reignited in December 2022, ballooning into the country’s worst outbreak since 1989, with over 7,400 confirmed cases and 471 deaths by early 2023. By May 2025, suspected cases skyrocketed to 44,000 nationwide, claiming 1,376 lives, mostly unvaccinated children in northern states like Kano and Yobe.
Niger State hasn’t escaped the scourge: From January to November 2025 alone, 1,926 suspected cases and 122 deaths ravaged communities, fueling a public health crisis tied to low immunization rates and post-COVID disruptions.
In Masaba A Ward of Bida local government, the 8-year-old boy was said to have succumbed to suspected diphtheria symptoms which include severe throat swelling, fever, and breathing struggles. Several other children in Efu Lungoyi exhibited similar signs, turning a quiet community into a hotspot of despair.
Niger State’s Health Commissioner, Dr. Murtala Muhammed Bagana, confirmed the boy’s death and the illnesses.
Bagana said that suspected cases were rushed to Federal Medical Centre, Bida, for lab confirmation and life-saving antitoxins.
He said that the affected children are now under intensive care at the medical center, with active contact tracing and surveillance kicking in to contain the spread.
“We’re launching targeted vaccinations, ramping up routine immunizations, and boosting community outreach with WHO partners,” Bagana said vowing to halt the outbreak in its tracks.
