UNN Student Among Those Killed By Strange Disease In Enugu Community

There has been a reported outbreak of a mysterious disease in two villages of Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The disease, which started in August this year, has so far claimed scores of lives at Ette and Umopu villages, including an undergraduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 30-year-old Chinedu Oyiga.

Our correspondent gathered that the victims often complained about brief headache, and then suffer vomiting of blood before dying.

An unconfirmed source said about six persons die on a daily basis in the affected villages, hence causing panic in the areas. Some residents were said to be evacuating their abodes due to the ravaging disease.

The disease surveillance officer of Igbo-Eze North LGA, Mr Vincent Oshomi, however, said some samples of suspected cases had been collected for medical examination.

The chairman of Igbo-Eze North LGA, Hon Ejike Itodo, told our correspondent at Ogrute that, “The matter has been reported to the Enugu State Epidemiology Department, and they have responded swiftly by sending an ambulance to evacuate people with visible symptoms of the suspected disease to the treatment centre. They will also be visiting our community today to sensitize us on how to go about the present situation. On the part of the council, we shall be addressing stakeholders of various communities, including traditional rulers, councillors and presidents general today, so they can go to their various communities and sensitize them on the suspected disease.”

Among the latest casualties are Emeka Elugwu Onu, 40; and Simon Eze, 47.

In yet-to-be-confirmed claims, a source said the affected areas recently cast a spell on all atrocities using a deity, and it is suspected as the cause of the strange disease.

According to the source, who does not want to be mentioned, “Anybody who gives poisons, rapes people, commits adultery, steals public funds and other taboos are the targets. It is meant to purge the areas of atrocities.”