A remote border community known as Lissam Sambo (Pangtso) in the Ussa local government area of Taraba State is mourning the loss of two residents. Both individuals passed away within a single day following snake encounters, highlighting the absence of emergency medical resources.
Elder Bako Awanki was the first victim, succumbing to a bite on July 23, 2026. A second, unnamed individual also lost their life the same night after a separate snakebite incident. Situated near the Cameroon border, the village lacks any medical facility stocked with anti-snake venom, forcing residents to depend on traditional healers during such emergencies.
Danladi Bewa, the leader of the community development association, expressed deep distress over the situation. He noted that many people have died in this manner because professional treatment centers are too distant for those in need. Bewa has formally requested that local chairman Abershi Musa and the Taraba State Commissioner for Health supply the village with the necessary antivenom. He emphasized that quick medical intervention is essential to save lives and requested that government officials prioritize this public health crisis.
