Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Nasir Idris, has called for calm following an outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis that claimed the lives of six students at Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero (KSUSTA).
In a statement on Saturday, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Mustapha Ango, confirmed the deaths and expressed condolences on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Mr. B.G. Danshehu. The university promptly took action to contain the outbreak by forming a specialised committee led by Prof. Balarabe Isah, Provost of the College of Health Sciences.
KSUSTA reported the outbreak to the Kebbi State Ministry of Health and the Ministry for Higher Education. A stakeholders’ meeting was convened, including experts from the World Health Organization, UNICEF, Médecins Sans Frontières, and other health professionals.
Despite these efforts, six students succumbed to the disease. The university reassured parents and guardians of its commitment to student welfare and safety.
Explaining why the school was not shut down, Ango stated that closure could create unnecessary panic, especially among non-indigenous students. “Shutting down might send the wrong signal to parents,” he said, emphasizing that the university and state government were managing the situation effectively.
The state government has pledged full support to contain the outbreak. The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ahmed Idris, confirmed that the state commissioner of health had been directed to take immediate action.
“The situation is under control, and there is no cause for alarm,” Idris assured.
