Two Die Of Snakebites In Ussa Community As Residents Seek Urgent Government Intervention

Two residents of Lissam Sambo (Pangtso) in Ussa Local Government Area of Taraba State have died from snakebites within 24 hours, in what residents describe as yet another preventable tragedy linked to the absence of basic emergency healthcare in the area.

The victims, including Elder Bako Awanki, who died on July 23, 2026, were reportedly bitten in separate incidents but shared a common fate—no access to anti-snake venom and no functional health facility within reach.

Findings indicate that Lissam Sambo (Pangtso), a remote border community adjoining the Republic of Cameroon, has continued to operate without critical medical supplies, forcing residents to depend on traditional remedies in life-threatening situations.

In both cases, locals said efforts to secure proper treatment failed due to distance and the unavailability of anti-snake venom, raising fresh concerns about the state of rural healthcare delivery in Taraba.

“This is not the first time we are losing people like this,” said the Chairman of the Lissam Sambo Community Development Association, Mr. Danladi Bewa, who described the deaths as avoidable.

According to him, multiple fatalities linked to snakebites have been recorded over time, with no sustained intervention to address the recurring crisis.

He questioned why a community of such vulnerability, located in a high-risk zone, has been left without access to basic life-saving medication.

Mr. Bewa called on the Chairman of Ussa Local Government Council, Hon. Abershi Musa, to urgently deploy anti-snake venom to the area, warning that continued inaction could lead to more deaths.

He also urged the Taraba State Ministry of Health to explain the absence of emergency medical support in the community, insisting that rural populations should not be left to face preventable deaths due to systemic neglect.

While expressing hope that authorities would act, residents say the pattern is familiar—deaths occur, appeals are made, and little changes.

The latest incident has again exposed the fragile state of healthcare access in remote parts of the state, where survival often depends not on the severity of illness, but on proximity to care.

As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the Taraba State Government or relevant health authorities on measures to prevent a recurrence.