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In a dramatic escalation of public health enforcement, the Benue State Government has sealed a privately-owned mortuary in Ugbokolo, Okpokwu Local Government Area, following the forceful deposition of a confirmed Lassa fever victim’s remains by community youths. The action, which defied established protocols for handling infectious disease deaths, prompted immediate intervention to prevent a potential outbreak in the region.
Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ogwuche, announced the closure on Thursday, revealing that the deceased—a 54-year-old woman from Ogbadibo—had succumbed to Lassa fever at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) in Makurdi, where laboratory tests confirmed the infection. Health officials attempting a safe, supervised burial were met with resistance; angry youths attacked the medical team, seized the corpse, and transported it to the Ugbokolo mortuary, now under lockdown.
Dr. Ogwuche explained that he intervened personally on Wednesday, coordinating with community leaders, local authorities, and security agencies to recover the remains and conduct a safe burial in Orokam, adhering strictly to World Health Organization (WHO) and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) guidelines. A team of senior health officials and security personnel was dispatched to Okpokwu and Ogbadibo LGAs to restore calm and contain any risk of further spread.
The private hospital and mortuary have been shut down pending full decontamination, disinfection, and a comprehensive epidemiological assessment of the affected area. “All individuals who had close contact with the deceased, including medical personnel, have been traced and placed under observation. The safety of the public remains our utmost concern, and the government will not condone any actions that threaten lives,” Dr. Ogwuche stated in Makurdi.
He issued a strong appeal to residents to refrain from handling the remains of anyone suspected to have died from infectious diseases and urged immediate reporting of symptoms such as persistent fever, vomiting, or unexplained bleeding to the nearest healthcare center. The commissioner reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to public health safety and warned that any behavior compromising disease control efforts would face decisive action.
This incident highlights the persistent challenges in managing highly contagious diseases like Lassa fever in rural communities, where cultural practices and misinformation sometimes clash with scientific protocols. As contact tracing continues and the sealed facility undergoes rigorous sanitization, health authorities remain on high alert to prevent a wider outbreak in Benue State. The swift response, while containing the immediate threat, serves as a sobering reminder of the delicate balance between community traditions and public health imperatives in Nigeria’s fight against hemorrhagic fevers.
