Former Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr Paul Botwev Orhii, has raised concern over the spread of deadly skin disease known as Buruli ulcer in several communities in Benue State.

The disease, which is locally referred to as Ambi, has reportedly affected residents in rural areas for more than ten years, especially in Ushongo Local Government and surrounding settlements. It leaves victims with open wounds, severe skin damage and, in many cases, permanent disability.

Orhii, in a statement, explained that the disease was often mistaken for witchcraft or spiritual affliction in the early years of its appearance until scientific investigation confirmed that it was caused by bacteria known as Mycobacterium ulcerans.

He said the infection requires medical treatment and not traditional or spiritual methods.

He warned that the infection is spreading silently because many people in rural areas have little knowledge about it and no access to early medical intervention.

The former NAFDAC DG called on the Federal Government to urgently treat the situation as a public health emergency and to deploy immediate support through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Similarly, the member representing Kwande and Ushongo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Terseer Ugbor, has sponsored a motion titled “Need to Address the Spread of Buruli Ulcer Disease in Benue State” to draw national attention to the outbreak.

Ugbor described Buruli ulcer as a neglected tropical disease that has brought years of pain, disability and financial hardship to affected families. He said many victims in Benue are suffering avoidable disabilities and social stigma simply because diagnostic and treatment centres are far from their communities.

“Many victims in Benue are suffering avoidable disabilities and social stigma simply because there are no diagnostic or treatment centres nearby. Samples are often sent to Lagos for testing, and sometimes they return with false results,” he said.

He urged the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control to establish a properly equipped laboratory and research facility at the NKST Aku Comprehensive Health Centre and the Cottage Hospital in Ikyobo, to serve as dedicated centres for the diagnosis and treatment of Buruli ulcer.

According to him, early diagnosis and proper antibiotic treatment can cure the disease and prevent more serious complications, including amputation and permanent disfigurement.

Health experts note that Buruli ulcer is one of the least recognised tropical diseases in Nigeria. It begins as painless swelling on the skin and later progresses into deep ulceration if left untreated. The disease thrives in swampy or rural areas where access to clean water and health information is limited.

Recent reports from the World Health Organisation (WHO) show that the disease continues to spread quietly in rural parts of Benue.

In February 2025, the WHO documented the case of a 57-year-old woman identified as Angela from Gwer West Local Government, whose small painless lump developed into a large wound that damaged her leg.

She said, “I initially dismissed the lump, which became a big wound with pus coming out of it. The wound affected my self-esteem and social life, making it difficult to care for my family.”

Her case was confirmed after a Disease Surveillance Officer collected samples for testing and she was placed on antibiotics.

Health workers say such early detection is rare because many affected people first seek help from traditional healers who are unaware of what the disease is.

Both Orhii and Ugbor expressed hope that with intervention from the Federal Government and increased awareness, many lives and limbs can be saved, while communities can be equipped with the right knowledge to prevent further spread.