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Suspected Militias Claims Eight Lives in Plateau Cummunity
In a tragic incident that has left the community of Adu village of Bassa LGA in shock, suspected militias launched a brutal attack that resulted in the loss of eight lives, including two minors. The horrifying assault took place at approximately 9 pm on Sunday, October 1, 2023, catching most residents off guard as they had retired to the safety of their homes.
Davidson Malison, the National Publicity Secretary of the Irigwe Development Association (IDA), confirmed this harrowing event in a statement issued on Monday. He described it as yet another heart-wrenching episode of violence and destruction that has plagued Plateau State.
Malison provided a chilling account of the attack, saying, “The gunmen stormed the community at about 2010hrs, positioned themselves, and unleashed a hail of bullets on the unsuspecting victims while they were asleep.” He went on to reveal that within minutes, eight innocent lives were lost, and five others sustained injuries, all of whom are currently receiving medical treatment in hospitals.
The Rigwe Nation, already reeling from the tragedy, finds itself in a state of profound sorrow. Danjuma Avu, a resident of Adu village, shared his traumatic experience, recounting how the attackers opened fire on people gathered at the mini market square. Avu tragically lost two of his own children and six other relatives during the onslaught. He described how the assailants, after attacking those outside, proceeded to enter a building where his children, who were undergoing medical treatment, and two others were shot.
The victims, consisting of five males, one female, and two minors, have been laid to rest in the village cemetery as the community grapples with the unbearable loss. Meanwhile, the injured individuals continue to receive critical medical care at local hospitals.
The incident has left the entire region deeply shaken, emphasizing the pressing need for enhanced security measures and a concerted effort to ensure the safety and well-being of the people in Plateau State.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended a Phase III trial of an Ebola vaccine to test whether it can protect against Bundibugyo virus disease.
WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, disclosed this in a video posted on his official X account on Thursday.
Ghebreyesus said two vaccines specifically developed against the Bundibugyo virus had entered Phase I safety trials in humans. At the same time, new animal studies had shown promising evidence that Ervebo, an Ebola vaccine, could also provide cross-protection against the virus.
He said the findings prompted WHO to recommend Ervebo for inclusion in a Phase III trial, which the organisation hopes to begin as soon as possible.
However, it is not yet known whether Ervebo can protect humans against Bundibugyo virus disease.
Mr Ghebreyesus said the Phase III trial would help establish whether the vaccine is safe and effective and could provide evidence needed to make it available for the current outbreak and future outbreaks.
No licensed vaccines
The development comes as the Bundibugyo virus outbreak in the DRC has become the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record.
As of Thursday, the country had recorded 4,449 confirmed cases and 2,061 deaths across five provinces and 53 health zones, according to the WHO.
The health agency said the outbreak was spreading faster than any previous Ebola outbreak at the same stage and could surpass the 2014–2016 West African outbreak, which remains the largest on record, with more than 28,000 cases and 11,000 deaths reported in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Bundibugyo virus is one of the viruses in the Ebola family that can cause severe and often fatal disease in humans.
Unlike Ebola virus disease caused by the Ebola virus, there is currently no licensed vaccine specifically approved for the prevention of Bundibugyo virus disease.
WHO said in June that Ervebo, the only licensed and WHO-prequalified Ebola vaccine, is approved for Ebola virus disease but not for Bundibugyo virus disease.
The current outbreak was first detected in the DRC in May, following an unexplained cluster of deaths in Ituri Province that was investigated. Laboratory testing confirmed Bundibugyo virus disease, prompting the DRC government to declare its 17th Ebola outbreak.
Uganda also confirmed imported cases linked to the outbreak in the DRC. WHO subsequently determined that the outbreak in the two countries constituted a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
Previous Bundibugyo virus outbreaks have had case fatality rates between 30 and 50 per cent, according to the WHO.
PREMIUM TIMES reported on 9 August that WHO had already recommended Ervebo for evaluation in a randomised clinical trial after reviewing evidence suggesting that it could provide some protection against Bundibugyo virus.
Treatment advancement
Mr Ghebreyesus also disclosed progress in research into treatments for Bundibugyo virus disease.
He said a WHO-sponsored partners trial had reached 100 patients.
The trial is assessing potential treatments for the disease and is intended to generate evidence on which therapies can improve outcomes for infected patients.
READ ALSO: DRC Ebola outbreak becomes second-largest on record WHO
Mr Ghebreyesus said the milestone showed that research could be mobilised rapidly and responsibly even during a difficult outbreak.
He called on partners to support and accelerate the vaccine trial, while emphasising that the response requires collaboration among the DRC government, WHO, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other partners.
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