A mysterious disease that eats away flesh and bones has struck Adamawa State, leaving at least 28 people infected, mostly in Malabu community, Fufore Local Government Area. Victims say the illness begins like an ordinary boil before bursting and slowly consuming the flesh until bones are damaged.
Dr. Suleiman Bashir, Chairman of the Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, confirmed the outbreak and said samples had been sent to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for detailed analysis. Results are expected within 10 days.
Despite the state government covering treatment costs at Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital, only eight patients have accepted hospital care. Many continue to rely on traditional medicine, even as the disease worsens.
For villagers like Mrs. Phibi Sabo, whose leg bones were destroyed after the boil turned into an open wound, and Junaidu Adamu, who has already spent over ₦200,000 without healing, the ordeal has been devastating. Local leaders estimate at least 30 people are battling the disease, with some staying home untreated.
The outbreak has sparked wider concern about Nigeria’s readiness to handle emerging diseases, especially in rural areas where poverty and reliance on traditional remedies often slow down medical intervention.
