At least five people have reportedly died in a suspected cholera outbreak that hit the Gwagwa community in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
The outbreak, which began on Monday, has left several other residents receiving treatment at private clinics in the area. Many affected people were taken to three private health facilities in the community.
At one of the clinics near the New Market, a nursing staff member reported that about nine patients had been admitted since the outbreak started. None had been discharged at the time of the report, and that facility recorded no deaths due to the suspected cholera outbreak. 
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What members of Gwagwa community are saying
A resident, Usman Abdullahi, who lost two neighbours, identified the deceased as Muhammad Danlami and Abbati Gambo. According to him, the two victims, along with three others, were buried at the community cemetery on Wednesday.
One parent, Samson Okoroafor, shared that three of his children fell ill almost at the same time. He managed to take two of them to clinics but was forced to treat the third at home with the help of a nurse because he could not afford care for all of them and bed space was limited.
Patients have been presenting with vomiting, diarrhoea, and severe dehydration, with many placed on intravenous fluids to combat the effects.
Water crisis suspected as cause of the Abuja cholera outbreak
Residents have linked the suspected outbreak to the community’s long-standing water problems.
One resident, Isiaku Bello, explained that Gwagwa has been without running water for more than two months. Most boreholes are not functioning due to poor electricity supply, forcing many people to buy water from vendors (mairuwa) at N300 per 20-litre jerrycan. Not everyone can afford this cost.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration has begun investigating the reports. FCT Epidemiologist Dr Lawal Lukman Ademola confirmed that health authorities received alerts and that he was heading to the community to verify the situation.
He added that official findings would be communicated within 24 hours.
Authorities have urged residents to prioritise hygiene and safe drinking water while investigations continue.
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