The Nigerian Forest Security Service (NFSS) has deployed personnel to Garko Local Government Area of Kano State following attacks by suspected rabid dogs that left 18 residents injured.
The command’s spokesman, Usman Abdullahi-Umar, said in a statement that the State Commander of the NFSS, Abdullahi Al’ameen, received a distress report at about 2 p.m. that a dog suspected to be infected with rabies had attacked residents in Garko town.
According to him, “The dog had bitten 11 people in Garko before moving into neighbouring communities, including Raba, Kadage, Gurjiya and Dausai, where it attacked and injured seven additional residents.”
The statement added that the dog attacked and injured seven more people in the affected communities, describing the situation as alarming.
Al’ameen said the command had also received another report indicating that two other dogs were suspected to have been infected with rabies, stressing the need for urgent action to contain the situation.
He said personnel of the NFSS Garko Division, led by the Divisional Forest Officer, Auwalu Muhammad, had been deployed to the affected communities to track and contain the suspected rabid dogs.
Al’ameen urged residents of Garko and neighbouring communities to remain vigilant and promptly report sightings of stray or suspected rabid dogs to the nearest NFSS office or other security agencies.
He also appealed to anyone bitten by the dogs to seek medical attention without delay.
The commander assured residents that the NFSS would continue to monitor the situation and take necessary measures to prevent further attacks and stop the incident from spreading to other communities in the state.
NFSS deploys personnel after suspected rabid dogs bite 18 in Kano