A cholera outbreak in Zamfara State has killed at least seven people and left nearly 200 others hospitalized across Gumi and Bukkuyum Local Government Areas, as residents accuse Governor Dauda Lawal of ignoring the crisis.
The outbreak, which began around August 10, 2025, is spreading rapidly. Residents fear the death toll could rise sharply amid what they describe as a lack of government response.
Sulaiman Abubakar Gumi, a member of the House of Representatives representing Gumi/Bukkuyum, told journalists that the situation is alarming. According to him, Bukkuyum alone has recorded 157 hospital admissions, Unguwar Gamji in Gumi has 24 cases, and Birnin Waje has reported seven deaths.
“This situation is worsening daily. People are dying silently in my constituency while government support is nowhere to be found,” Gumi said.
Local communities and volunteers are reportedly struggling to cope, with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) being the only organization providing substantial assistance. The outbreak has been traced to unsanitary conditions in displacement camps, where flooding has forced internally displaced persons to defecate in open drainage channels, contaminating water sources.
Cholera has become a recurring disaster in Zamfara, particularly during the rainy season, due to poor sanitation, lack of clean water, and inadequate preventive measures by authorities. Health experts warn that the situation in Zamfara reflects a broader national challenge.
In 2021, Nigeria recorded over 3,600 cholera deaths across 30 states, with Bauchi, Kano, and Borno being the hardest hit. Outbreaks last year in Yobe and Katsina also claimed dozens of lives.
Frustration among Zamfara residents has turned to anger against Governor Lawal. Some accuse him of prioritizing political activities over addressing urgent public health needs.
“Governor Lawal is hosting political leaders in Gusau, dining in expensive agbadas, while our children drink from muddy ponds,” said a resident of Bukkuyum.
“Every day, he changes clothes for photographs, but cannot provide ordinary chlorine for our water. Is this governance?”
Witnesses report families resorting to contaminated water from flooded pits, while local clinics are running out of basic rehydration salts. MSF reported over 1,500 suspected cholera cases in Zamfara between mid-June and early August.
Dr. David Kizito, MSF’s Head of Mission in Nigeria, warned that flooding, insecurity, displacement, and lack of clean water have created “a perfect storm” for repeated cholera outbreaks. Despite repeated alerts, authorities have failed to act, leaving residents to face the disease annually.
Attempts to reach Governor Lawal’s office for comment were unsuccessful. His spokesperson redirected inquiries to the Commissioner of Health, Nafisa Maradun, who did not respond to calls or messages.
