The Nigerian Forest Security Service, NFSS, Kano State Command, has deployed personnel to Garko Local Government Area to track and contain dogs suspected to be infected with rabies after 18 residents were reportedly bitten.
The incident began in Garko town, where one suspected rabid dog attacked 11 people before moving into neighbouring communities, including Raba, Kadage, Gurjiya and Dausai, where seven additional people were reportedly bitten.
The NFSS State Commander, Abdullahi Al’ameen, disclosed the development in a statement signed by the service’s Public Relations Officer, Usman Abdullahi-Umar, in Kano on Sunday, saying the command received a distress report at about 2 p.m. concerning the dog’s attacks in Garko.
“The command received a distress report at about 2 p.m. that a dog suspected to be rabid has attacked residents in Garko town,” he said.
According to him, the dog subsequently moved beyond Garko town and attacked residents in surrounding communities, bringing the reported number of people bitten to 18.
The commander also said the service received another report indicating that two additional dogs in the area were suspected to have been infected with rabies.
Following the reports, personnel from the NFSS Garko Division, led by the Divisional Forest Officer, Auwalu Muhammad, were deployed to the affected communities to track and contain the dogs.
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Al’ameen urged residents in Garko and neighbouring communities to remain vigilant and avoid approaching stray dogs or animals displaying unusual behaviour.
He also advised residents to immediately report sightings of stray or suspected rabid dogs to the nearest NFSS office or other security agencies to facilitate intervention.
Nigeria continues to face a significant burden from dog-mediated rabies. The World Health Organization reported in 2025 that the country records an estimated 10,000 human rabies deaths annually, although the figure is believed to be an underestimate because of weaknesses in surveillance and reporting.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, also identifies rabies as a persistent public health concern and advises prompt medical intervention following exposure to a potentially infected animal.
Against the backdrop of the Garko attacks, Al’ameen advised anyone bitten by a suspected rabid dog to seek immediate medical attention rather than waiting for symptoms to develop.
The NCDC says post-exposure treatment can prevent rabies after exposure. It recommends thorough washing of the wound and appropriate medical assessment, including rabies vaccination and, where indicated, rabies immunoglobulin.
The health agency also notes that controlling stray dogs and ensuring regular vaccination of domestic dogs are important measures for reducing the risk of human rabies.
The NFSS commander assured residents that the command would continue monitoring the affected areas and take necessary measures to contain the suspected infected dogs and prevent further attacks.
No death or confirmed human case of rabies has been reported in connection with the Garko incident in the statement issued by the NFSS.
NAN
