SNAKES DISTURBS COMMUNITY IN PLATEAU KILLS 50 PEOPLE

As a result of flooding , some snakes were washed into Kanke and Kanam communities in Plateau state. These snake has bitten more than fifty people.

Timothy Golu, representative of the area at the house of representatives, confirmed the development to NAN in Jos after visiting the victims.
Golu said some had died while others in critical conditions were on admission in various hospitals and traditional snake treating homes.
He said 13 victims were at Zamko clinic in Langtang, 20 in traditional healers’ treatment homes, seven in herbalists’ centres, while some visit the centres for daily treatment owing to lack of bed space.
“Some have even been treated and discharged, but a woman at my place, who has been treated and discharged, still has pus gushing from the bitten spot and we have advised her to return to the hospital for fresh checks,” he said.
“We fear that something worse may result from the wound if not properly treated because she is already limping.”

Describing the situation as “very scary and pathetic”, Golu said the snakes move openly and always in pairs.
“As the flood pushed them from the over flown tributaries of Rivers Benue and Niger, some snakes climbed trees, others entered holes while some just held unto any available straw,” he said.
“All of them later descended into residences and farms where they have been wrecking havoc.”
He said the commonest species were the black mamba, carpet viper and cobra, and declared that most victims usually depend on luck to survive.
Golu appealed to the government to treat the snake invasion as ‘a national emergency’ and give it a similar response to that of HIV/AIDS and the Ebola virus.
“Government must come in with full force and ensure that the anti-snake venom is provided to the people free of charge because it is too expensive for the rural poor,” he said.